The most striking feature of the external appearance of this Mosque is the splendid dome that gracefully rises from the centre of its flat roof. The base, or drum, of the dome is twenty-seven feet high, and is pierced by sixteen mosaic windows. For oddity of design, delicacy of workmanship, and beauty of effect, I have seldom seen anything to equal these windows. McGarvey, with his usual grace and eloquence, says: “This dome is 65 feet in diameter at its base, and 97 feet high from the base to apex. The apex is 170 feet high from the ground. It is covered with lead, almost black from exposure, and is surmounted with a large gilt crescent. The peculiar grace of the curve with which it springs from the drum on which it rests, and that with which it reaches its crescent-crowned apex, distinguish it for beauty of outline from all other domes, perhaps, in the world. From whatever point it is viewed, whether from the Haram area, the city wall, the Mount of Olives, or any other height about the city, it is the most prominent and pleasing object in Jerusalem.”
The Mosque has four doors, before reaching any one of which, we must pass through a vestibule. We enter from the east side. On reaching the door, a tall Arab, patriarchal and reverential in appearance, approaches and informs us that no Mohammedan, much less a Frank, is allowed to enter this Haram es Sheriff, this “Noble Sanctuary,” with his shoes on. The patriarchal Arab has a supply of slippers on hand which can be had for a few piasters. Taking off our boots, we put on the rented slippers, and continue to examine and admire the mighty structure.
The building, being eight-sided, is practically round. Since coming on the inside, this is even more noticeable than when we were without. Within the building, and thirteen feet from the wall, there is a large circle composed of eight huge square piers and sixteen round columns—there being two columns between each two piers. The piers, or pillars, are built of different-colored marble arranged in showy panels. The columns are of the finest marble, and are so highly polished that they reflect like mirrors. Each is crowned with a Corinthian capital overlaid with gold. From column to column, and also from column to pier, there springs a beautifully rounded arch built of marble blocks, alternately black and white. These several arches furnish a strong support to the roof above.
Nearer the centre of the building, and thirty feet from the pillars just mentioned, there is an inner and smaller circle, formed by four piers and twelve columns, there being three columns between each two of the pillars. The centre of each column and pier in the outer circle is thirteen feet from the wall. The columns of the inner circle are likewise thirty feet from those in the outer one. As from the columns and piers of the outer circle, so also from those of the smaller one, marble arches spring. These latter arches support the mighty dome, the exterior of which has already been described.
Look now at the vast structure around you, at the sunny dome above you! Look at the paneled piers, at the mirror-like columns, at the gilded capitals, at the marble arches adorned with rich mosaics and bordered above with inscriptions from the Koran beautifully wrought in interlaced letters of burnished gold. It is evening. The sun is sinking. Banks of golden clouds are floating over the city. The airy dome above us seems suspended in the air and belted with fire. The stained windows in the dome receive, transmit, and reflect the glowing light, until every part of the “Noble Sanctuary” is flooded with golden fire. In the language of Dr. Geikie, “There could, I suppose, be no building more perfectly lovely than the Mosque of Omar, more correctly known as the Dome of the Rock.”
“Why is it called the Dome of the Rock?” the reader asks. I am now ready to answer this question. Within the inner circle of columns, and directly underneath the dome, a huge rock rises up through the floor. It is seven feet high, and is fifty-three feet across! The whole edifice about us was built in honor of this stone, and hence the name of the structure—“The Dome of the Rock.”
SOLOMON’S TEMPLE AS IT WAS.
“Why should this rock be so highly honored?” For many reasons. It is honored alike by Jew, Christian, and Mohammedan. According to tradition, this rock was the summit of Mt. Moriah, and on it Abraham offered up Isaac. It was on this rock that Jacob saw the ladder extending from earth to heaven on which angels were ascending and descending. This rock was David’s threshing-floor that he bought from the Jebusite. On it David built an altar and offered the sacrifice that stayed the wrath of the angel, and thus saved the city. Over this rock Solomon built his Temple. On this rock Christ stood, when twelve years of age, and confounded the doctors with His questions and answers. On this same rock He stood, in later life, and preached the riches of His own everlasting gospel.