Temple Mount (Mount Moriah)
The Temple Mount (or Mount Moriah) is one of the most remarkable places.
Solomon built there the First Temple; the Covenant and Aaron's rod were
kept there. The temple was destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar (how to pronounce
this?!) captured Jerusalem in 586 BCE.
The mount was also the site of the Second (Herodian) Temple---destroyed
by Titus in 70 AD, after a Jewish revolt against Rome.
For Muslims this is the holiest site after Mecca and Medina. They believe
that the Judgement Day will take place here and that Mohammed ascended
to heaven on his winged horse here from the Foundation Stone (Rock) after
his Night Journey from Mecca.
The very same Rock is considered by Jews as the centre of the world
and the foundation upon which the universe was created. Solomon and David
prayed in the grotto below the Rock. By Jewish tradition, Abraham had to
sacrifice Isaac here. Each fissure or mark on the Rock has its own legend.
Presently a Muslim mosque, the Dome of the Rock built by Caliph Abd-el-Malik
in 691, encompasses the Foundation Stone.
| View on Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. |
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| This is the Cup (El-Kas) constructed by the Mameluke Emir Tankiz in
1320. It has a series of taps so that the Muslims wash face, hands and
feet there before praying. |
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| This is the Dome of Rock
The west door (the one to the left on the picture) is known as the Women's
Gate. The south door (on the right) is called Angel's Gate (Bab Israfil),
referring to the angel (Raphael) who will blow a horn there to assemble
the faithful on the Judgement Day. |
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| The Dome is decorated with glazed tiles and marble imported from Turkey
in the 16th century. (The original mosaic was severely damaged by time
and weather.)
The text along the perimeter in the upper part narrates about Mohammed's
Night Journey. |
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| This the the Dome of Chain. King David sat in judgement here, hence
the alternative name, Makhamat Daud. The legend says that a chain hung
from the ceiling at the time of judgement. Anyone telling the truth could
touch it, whereas anyone who lied could not reach it, since it rose up
out of reach. |
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| By Muslim tradition the Dome of Chain marks also the place where Mohammed,
after his Night Journey, was met by his daughter Fatima, Angel Gabriel,
and others. Hence other names, Qubbat Fatima and Makam Gibril. |
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| This is mihrab (a Muslim praying niche). The mosque in the background,
called El-Aksa, is the oldest mosque in the Holy Land, built by Omar in
638. It was destroyed and restored after two earthquakes, in 747 and 1033.
The mosque was originally far much larger.
Among others, it contains praying niches for Moses, Zacharia (the farther
of John the Baptist), and Jesus. |
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| The Dome of Solomon marks the place of Solomon's Prayer after the First
Temple had been built: "I have built Thee an exalted house, a place
for Thee to dwell in for ever" (1 Kings VIII.12-13).
A piece of the Foundation Stone is kept there. |
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| The Western (Wailing) Wall is the only remnant of the Second Temple.
Jews come here to mourn the destruction of the Temple and to pray. |
© Palphot |