Dome of the Rock
📚What You Will Learn
- Its construction history and Umayyad motivations.
- Unique architectural features and engineering.
- Religious significance across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
- Artistic decorations and historical renovations.
📝Summary
ℹ️Quick Facts
- Built 685-691 CE by Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik; world's oldest Islamic structure.
- 60-foot wooden dome over octagonal base with 16 piers and columns.
- Gold-plated exterior; interior mosaics feature Quranic verses.
💡Key Takeaways
- Represents early Islamic architecture fusing Byzantine and Persian influences.
- Shrine for pilgrims, housing the sacred Foundation Stone.
- Survived collapses and renovations, including Ottoman tilework in 1545-1552.
The Dome of the Rock crowns Jerusalem's Temple Mount, hallowed ground of Solomon's Temple (c. 516 BCE) and Herod's expanded Second Temple, razed by Romans in 70 CE. After the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE, Emperor Hadrian built a temple to Jupiter there.
This layered history underscores its profound multi-faith importance.
Caliph Abd al-Malik chose this spot during the Second Fitna (civil war), erecting the shrine as a mashhad for pilgrims, not public worship. It marks the Foundation Stone, tied to Muhammad's Mi'raj ascension and Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac.
Built 685-691 CE, the Dome pioneered monumental Islamic architecture with its octagonal plan: 60-foot wooden dome on a drum, circled by 16 piers/columns inside an outer arcade of 24. Walls rise 36 feet high with windows for light.
Byzantine roots shine in the shape, columns, and mosaics, inspired by local churches like the Holy Sepulchre. A double-shelled dome ensures stability, with inner/outer ambulatories distributing weight.
Umayyad grandeur adds geometric patterns and elevated platforms.
Inside, vibrant mosaics, marble, and Quranic inscriptions in Arabic calligraphy proclaim Islamic faith, rejecting Christian Trinity views. The inner drum bears glass mosaics; outer walls once had them, replaced by Suleiman's blue faience tiles (1545-1552).
The golden dome, now copper-plated, gleams over the sacred rock. Persian Sassanian motifs blend with Islamic motifs, showcasing cultural fusion. This artistry elevated Islam's visual identity.
The dome collapsed in 1015, rebuilt by 1023; Fatimid and Ottoman eras brought updates, including 19th-century work. Today, it endures as a UNESCO site, drawing pilgrims despite access limits.
Politically, it asserted Umayyad power amid rivals. Its survival reflects masterful engineering and devotion, inspiring Islamic design worldwide.
In 2026, the Dome symbolizes peace amid tensions, its gold dome visible for miles. Visitors marvel at its harmony of faiths and eras.
Study it for lessons in engineering—like self-supporting octagons—and art's power to unite/divide. A timeless beacon in Jerusalem's skyline.
⚠️Things to Note
- Located on Temple Mount, site of Jewish Temples destroyed in 70 CE and 516 BCE.
- Original dome collapsed in 1015, rebuilt 1022-23.
- Exterior tiles from Suleiman the Magnificent era.