Jerusalem - El-Aqsa Mosque Masjid el-Aqsa
The El-Aqsa Mosque (Masjid el-Aqsa) in Jeruslaem and its subsidiary buildings, the Museum of Islamic Art by the Moroccans' Gate and the prayer halls for women, occupy most of the south side of the Haram esh-Sherif. Its prayer niche (mihrab) faces south, in the direction of Mecca. The mosque was built by the Omayyad Caliph El-Walid I (705-715) on the site of Justinian's basilica dedicated to the Mother of God.
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The Crusaders took it for Solomon's Temple, and the Jews call it Solomon's School (Midrash Shelomo). It has been several times restored and renovated, most recently between 1938 and 1943, when columns of white Carrara marble supplied by Mussolini were installed and a new ceiling was built at the expense of King Farouk of Egypt.
The mosque (excluding the subsidiary buildings) is 80m/260ft long by 55m/180ft wide. In 1967 it was damaged by gunfire and in 1969 by fire, but has since been restored.
The interior with its seven aisles is impressive. The 12th century carved wooden pulpit, which was badly damaged in the 1969 fire (since restored), was a gift from Saladin, who also presented the beautiful mosaic on a gold ground in the drum supporting the dome. The mihrab (prayer niche) with its graceful marble colonnettes dates from the same period. Built on to the west side of the transept is the White Mosque (the women's mosque), which dates from the time of the Templars.
The mosque (excluding the subsidiary buildings) is 80m/260ft long by 55m/180ft wide. In 1967 it was damaged by gunfire and in 1969 by fire, but has since been restored.
The interior with its seven aisles is impressive. The 12th century carved wooden pulpit, which was badly damaged in the 1969 fire (since restored), was a gift from Saladin, who also presented the beautiful mosaic on a gold ground in the drum supporting the dome. The mihrab (prayer niche) with its graceful marble colonnettes dates from the same period. Built on to the west side of the transept is the White Mosque (the women's mosque), which dates from the time of the Templars.
