Qubbat al-Sakhrah, Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Qubbat al-Sakhrah, Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

I was lucky to visit Dome of the Rock on a recent trip to Jerusalem. There are set times that tourists may visit the site each day, and you need to proceed through a security checkpoint run by the Jordan government. Non Muslims may not enter the actually buildings themselves, however the grounds are certainly a site to behold. Of note the dome is a Muslim "shrine," not a mosque.


My photographs can't come close to capturing the vibrancy of the colors, or the occasional wafts of smell of incense and food coming from the surrounding dense old city. The grounds are large, an in spite of the substantial queue of people and demand to enter, it still has a feeling of serenity relative to the bustling surroundings outside of the walls.







The Dome of the Rock was first built in 691-692 of the Common Era (CE) and was rebuilt following a collapse in 1022-1023. Further information on the site, buildings, and tremendous significance to Abrahamic faiths can be found here.



Text and photographs by George Parks
Sources are embedded in links


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