For Christians and Jews it’s known as the Temple
Mount, for Muslims, Haram Ash-Sharif. This platform is sacred to those three
monotheistic religions. An impressive and beautiful edifice, the Dome of the
Rock, was built (from 688-691 AD) on the platform and can be seen from all over
Jerusalem.
The Dome of the Rock is also known as the Mosque of
Omar. Interestingly, it is not a mosque and Omar didn’t build it. It is a
shrine built by Abdul al-Malik ibn Marwan. The shrine houses a rock—the rock
believed to be the place where Abraham bound Isaac, where Solomon built the 2nd Temple, and where Muslims believe the prophet Mohammed made his Miraaj
or Night Journey to Jerusalem and back to Mecca.
The Dome of the Rock
was the first major sanctuary
built by Islam. The beautiful dome is about 60 feet across and more than 105
fight high. Extensive decoration from a variety of periods, including mosaics,
painted wood, marble, multi-colored tiles, carpets, and carved stone, covers
most of the exterior and interior of the building. Many of the blue and gold
exterior tiles were installed under Suleiman the Magnificent in the 1500s.
Comments
Post a Comment