Built between 685 and 691 by the Umayyad builder Caliph Abd al-Malik, the Dome of the Rock is an ancient holy site set on a legendary rock in Jerusalem. Outside, the building is octagonal, with a door and 7 windows on each side. Inside, the domed structure is circular.
The Dome of the Rock is made of marble and richly decorated with tile, mosaics, gilded wood, and painted stucco. The builders and artisans came from many different regions and incorporated their individual techniques and styles into the final design. The dome is made of gold and stretches 20 meters in diameter.
The Dome of the Rock gets its name from the massive rock located at its center, upon which, according to Islamic history, the prophet Muhammad stood before he ascended to heaven. This rock is equally important in the Judaic tradition, which considers it the symbolic foundation upon which the world was built and the place of the Binding of Isaac.
The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but is often given that name because the holy site is located in the atrium at Masjid al-Aqsa (al-Aqsa mosque).
Learn More about Dome of the Rock:
