- Address: Jerusalem;
- Height: 35 m;
- Discovery: 691 of the Nativity of Christ;
- Architects: Raja ibn Haywah, Yazid Ibn Salam.
The Dome of the Rock is one of the most revered by the Muslims of the temples, it is located in the heart of the Temple Mount. The temple is distinguished by regular proportional outlines, beautiful mosaic ornamentation inside. The temple is a symbol of Jerusalem and sacred to Muslims, because according to their belief, it was from here that the prophet ascended to heaven.
History and description of the attraction
The Temple of the Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem) is named so not by chance - here is the stone from which the Lord began the Creation of the World. The mosque is a complex with the Al-Aqsa mosque , which is located very close by. But the Dome of the Rock surpasses the neighboring temple in size and impressive gold dome, visible even from afar.
The construction of the mosque began in 687 and was completed in 691 under the leadership of two Arab engineers Raji ben Khiva and Yazid bin Salam. The caliph Abd al-Malik ordered the Islamic temple to be erected. The Dome of the Rock Mosque was rebuilt many times, destroyed by earthquakes or as a result of invasions, passed from Jews to Muslims.
Since 1250, it finally became Muslim. In 1927, the earthquake caused a significant damage to the construction. Recovery took several decades and required serious financial influences.
The modern dome has a diameter of 20 m, and its height is 34 m. The dome is supported by four pillars installed along the perimeter and a lot of columns. The lower part is an octagon divided in two by columns. The interior is designed in the colors of Islam: white, blue, green, gold. The walls are decorated with patterned marble, and decorated with plates of bronze, gilding and embossing.
All architectural elements are strictly in the number of four. This figure is sacred to Muslims. The Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem literally soars over the city. Only women pray in the temple, but it is also a monument storing the stone from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended. The rock is protected from visitors by a gilded fence in two rows. In its southeastern part there is a noticeably small hole, it leads to the lower cave, known as the Well of Souls.
The place where the temple is built is also sacred to all Abrahamic religions - here was stored a chest with tablets containing 10 commandments.
Information for tourists
Visit the mosque to tourists who profess a different religion, and not Islam, only in accordance with a specially established schedule. In this case, a separate ticket to the temple is not for sale, but only one, allowing to visit at the same time the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Museum of Islamic Art.
It's not enough to come to the mosque at the right time. The tourist should properly dress and find the right entrance. Therefore, it is better to visit the temple as part of the excursion group, but an independent visit will be cheaper.
The correct style of clothing suggests that you need to cover your head and shoulders with a handkerchief, mini skirts, shorts and symbols of other religions, especially Jewish ones, are forbidden. Shoes should be left at the entrance, in the temple you can not pray for other rituals, except Islamic. Do not touch the stone directly below the dome.
The Dome of the Rock Mosque is closed for visits on Fridays, Saturdays and on Muslim holidays. The dates of the latter change every year, depending on the lunar calendar. Tourists of a different faith can come to the mosque in the morning from 7:30 to 10:30 and from 12:30 to 13:30 in the summer, and in winter the time of the morning visit is reduced by half an hour.
Visiting the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem, a photo for memory should be made necessarily, given how hard it is to get inside.
How to get there?
To reach the mosque will not be difficult, because every inhabitant of the city will show the way. In addition, the temple is located on the mountain and is well visible from anywhere in Jerusalem . You can reach the place where the mosque is located by public transport, for example, bus number 1.43, 111 or 764.