The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem - one of the most important shrines in Islam

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is an Islamic temple built in the 6th century. It is one of the most important shrines of Islam and is located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock are the centre of contention between Israel and Palestine, which often leads to conflict and tension.

The Dome of the Rock was built on the site where, according to Islam, Muhammad ascended to heaven and, according to Judaism, the Jerusalem temple was located.

Construction of the dome began in 691 under Caliph Abd al-Malik and lasted five years. It was the first Islamic temple built in the territory of lands conquered by the Arabs.

Over the centuries, the dome has been used as a place of prayer for followers of Islam, and has been the target of numerous crusades and conflicts over control of the Temple Mount.

In the 20th century, the dome witnessed numerous conflicts over control of Jerusalem, including the Six-Day War in 1967.

Today, the Dome of the Rock is an important pilgrimage site for followers of Islam and is also frequently visited by tourists from around the world who want to see one of the most important works of Islamic architecture and art.

The Dome of the Rock is also an important site for Christians, as the Temple Mount is considered to be the site of the Jerusalem temple and also the place where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion.

Below the dome is part of the holy rock, which is exposed and protected by a balustrade. The sacred rock is the focal point of the temple. It is a large, ancient rock that may once have stood in the middle of Solomon's Temple.

The Dome of the Rock is an example of Islamic architecture that combines elements of Byzantine, Persian and Roman art.

The dome has a diameter of 20 metres and a height of approximately 20 metres. The outer frame of the dome is decorated with beautiful mosaics and ceramic tiles.

The weight of the dome is estimated to be around 55 tonnes. Inside the dome is a valuable reliquary that holds the rocks from which followers of Islam believe Muhammad ascended to the heavens.

The dome is topped with a full moon decoration that evokes the familiar crescent-shaped Islamic symbol. It is positioned in such a way that if you could look through it, you would be looking straight towards Mecca.

The beautiful multi-coloured Turkish tiles that adorn the exterior of the shrine are faithful copies of the Persian tiles that Suleiman the Magnificent added in 1545 to replace the damaged originals. The lower half of the exterior is white marble.

The walls and ceiling of the dome are decorated with mosaics and geometric patterns that tell stories from the Koran and symbolise the religious message of Islam.

The columns supporting the inner octagon and the central circle are of different sizes and have been sourced from previous structures.

The outer walls of the structure form an octagon and each of the eight sides is approximately 18 metres (60 feet) wide and 11 metres (36 feet) high.

It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Muslims, and one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture in the world.

Although the Dome of the Rock is often considered a place of Islamic worship, it is in fact open to all faiths and nations who wish to visit and worship. Inside, there are many rooms and prayer areas, as well as many sculptures and decorations that reflect the history and culture of the site.

The building is also an important site for scientific and archaeological research. Many expeditions have been carried out there to learn about the history and geology of the site, as well as to discover new information about its architecture and culture.