In Jerusalem, not far from its new part, moving to the east, on the holy Mount Moriah, there is a unique building resembling a wonderful turquoise castle. It received the name of the mosque of Caliph Omar, or the second name - the mosque "Dome of the Rock".
Instructions
Step 1
The Omar Mosque is one of the main shrines for Muslims. The attraction is located where the famous and majestic temple of King Solomon used to be. It is adorned with an impressive golden dome with a crescent on top. The dome is a symbol of the sacred rock, in particular the peak of Mount Moriah; according to legend, it denotes the center of the world.
Step 2
The Omar Mosque (Al-Aqsa Mosque) was built on the Temple Mount, where the second Jewish Temple used to be, by Caliph Omar for Muslims to pray. In 745, it was damaged due to a strong earthquake, and Abbasid al-Mansur was involved in its restoration. Around 1035, the modern look of the mosque was created. In 1100, Jerusalem was taken by the crusaders, who converted the mosque into a Christian temple. But in 1188 the crusaders were expelled from the city, and the shrine again began to belong to the Muslim people. At the present time, the Zacharias chapel remained from the crusaders, as well as the knight's hall in the western and eastern wings of the mosque.
Step 3
The Omar Mosque is not only a significant Muslim shrine, but also one of the most important and most beautiful architectural monuments in the Middle East. The mosque is quite large in size, 80 m long and 55 m wide, and has an octagonal shape. The central gallery of the building is supported by columns, as well as six side galleries. The entrance to the mosque is opened by seven front doors and four aisles from the ends. The ceilings in the galleries and the spherical dome are tiled with mosaics. Outside, the walls are decorated with blue tiles, and the dome is covered with gold-colored aluminum leaves.
Step 4
Inside, the columns seem to divide the mosque into three circles. In the middle there is a shapeless block made of white limestone; it is the shrine of the Solomon's temple. There is a cave under it, into which you need to descend by eleven steps. There is a hole on the ceiling of this cave, from which the blood of the sacrificial animals flowed down. The mosque has an imposing basement, which is called the "Solomon's stables", at one time the knights of King Solomon kept horses here.
Step 5
According to the established tradition, Muslims who make a pilgrimage go around 7 circles around the sacred rock. I must say that the Omar Mosque is no less revered place for people of other religions. Christians and Jews also come here, but the entrance is not always open to them. On holidays revered by Muslims, as well as on Friday, only representatives of this religion can enter the monastery.
