Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Israel & Petra

Temple Mount ❮❮ 15

Ashrafiyya
Dome of
4 7 INSIDE THE DOME
the Rock
Madrasa
Built in AD 688–91 by One of several Islamic OF THE ROCK
Caliph Abd al-Malik, colleges on the platform, The interior of this shrine
this shrine (below) is the Ashrafiyya was built (closed to non-Muslims)
one of the world’s great in 1482 by Qaitbey and is lavishly decorated with
architectural glories. A is a masterpiece of inscriptions and floral
synthesis of Byzantine Islamic design. The motifs. At the center of
and Classical styles, the doorway incorporates the octagon stands the
octagonal structure was bands of colored stone, Holy Rock, from where
built with mathematical stalactite carvings, Mohammad is believed
to have begun his Night
precision to enshrine and interlocking Journey, leaving his
the Holy Rock within. “joggled” stones. footprint in the corner.
For Jews, the Rock is
associated both with
Abraham’s sacrifice of
Isaac and as the site
of the Holy of Holies.
Dome of
9
the Chain
Supported by 17 columns
(below), the structure’s
purpose remains a mys-
tery. The 13th-century
tiling on the interior is as
exquisite as that inside
the Dome of the Rock.

Al-Aqsa
Minbar of
5 8
Mosque
Burhan al-Din
This delicate minbar The early 8th century,
(pulpit) by the south El-Aqsa was razed by
qanatir is exquisitely earthquakes and occu-
carved, and includes pied by the Crusaders. It
some delicate Crusader contains a mihrab (prayer
sculpture. It is used for niche) from Saladin’s
outdoor services during time and marble columns
the summer. donated by Mussolini.
Sabil of Qaitbey
6
The carved stone dome of this 15th-century
public fountain (below), finely decorated inside and
out, is unique in the Holy Land. It was built by the
Mameluke Sultan Qaitbey in the shape of a tomb.
Qanatir
0
A qanatir (row of
free-standing arches)
tops each of the eight
flights of steps up to the
Dome of the Rock. Some
of the column capitals of
the arcades were reused
from Roman buildings.

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