Jerusalem: Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock is the earliest remaining Islamic monument. It is constructed on an artificial platform, has a dome measuring 20 meters in diameter, and a exterior richly decorated in mosaic. The shape of the building is octagonal. It was built by the Umayyad dynasty, in part to complete with the splendor of Christian and Jewish architecture, but also to emphasize the victory of Islam in completing the revelations of Christianity and Judaism. The Dome of the Rock is a shrine that houses the Foundation Stone, a significant holy site in the Jewish and Islamic traditions. In the modern Muslim tradition it is believed that the Foundation Stone is the site of Muhammad’s ascent into Heaven. In the Jewish tradition, the Foundation Stone is the holiest site on Earth. Jews all over the world pray toward the Foundation Stone.https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/smolski_images/1649/thumbnail.jp