The Dome Of The Rock - 1999 Words

The Dome of the Rock (688-92) is a building project which demonstrates a particular way of achieving uniqueness in architecture. Architectural uniqueness can be established by introducing the same building form and materials in a slightly different way, complimenting its surrounding. Again, this uniqueness can be achieved by having a completely different building vocabulary, contrasting with its surroundings. In this context, this essay will investigate what type of architectural uniqueness the Dome of the Rock possess and how this uniqueness has been achieved through various architectural elements. Historical Background and Site Context The Dome of the Rock is located in the city of Jerusalem and stands upon the land of the main three sacred religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. To them, Jerusalem was their holy city, a place for pilgrimage and an area for devotion. The Temple Mount, or al-Haram al-Sharif is a significant part of the city. The shape of the Temple Mount is slightly trapezoidal and comprises of an array of different mosques, gates and monuments. In the center of the platform, there is another raised trapezoidal platform, which is accessed by an arcade of stairways. This platform holds up the focal point of the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock. This monument was built primarily to act as a shrine, sheltering a sacred rock found upon the Temple Mount. As the Umayyad’s came to build the shrine on top of the Temple Mount, they wereShow MoreRelatedThe Dome Of The Rock1278 Words   |  6 Pagesbeautiful gilt dome decorating the skyline of Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock is the oldest and most famous Islamic building on the Temple Mount. As a religious space with kinetic and interrelated characteristics, it not only functions as a Muslim shrine, but also exhibits significance based on its history and relative location to the J ewish Temple and Christian churches. Built on the site of Solomon’s Temple and decorated with mosaics symbolizing the Paradise and Jewish royalty, the Dome reveals theRead MoreThe Dome Of The Rock1685 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Prophet Muhammad to Heaven started from Jerusalem, from al-Sakhra known now as Qubbat al-Sakhra (the Dome of the Rock)† (El-Khatib 2001:34). The Dome of the Rock is still present and can be visited today on the Temple Mount within Jerusalem. Similar to the ascension of Prophet Muhammad, the Christians believe that Jerusalem is the location of Jesus’ resurrection from death. The Dome of the Rock bears great significance to the Islamic people, but the question remains: Why exactly was it built onRead MoreThe Dome Of The Rock2572 Words   |  11 Pages the Dome of the Rock has received the honor of being recognized as â€Å"Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmark†, with its octagonal structure and the conspicuous gold-plated roof . Also seen as one of the oldest extant Islamic architectural work, the Dome was originally built to show the Christians that Islam could also have a great monument to rival the Dome of the Anastasis and thus the Muslims would not be dazzled by Christian churches and dome. (Armstrong 1997: 237). If we examine the Dome separatelyRead MoreThe Dome Of The Rock1959 Words   |  8 PagesThe Dome of the Rock Jerusalem is the holy city that hosts an array of religious artifacts and buildings that are rooted in different religions that span centuries. From the Wailing Wall to the Second Temple, Jerusalem exists as a testament to ancient religions and their cultures. But one particular architectural masterpiece rises above all of them. The Dome of the Rock or Qubbat as-Sakhrah rises above Jerusalem, its golden peak reflecting the desert sun, a beacon of ancient history. It can be seenRead MoreThe Dome Of The Rock And Alhambra Essay1378 Words   |  6 Pages The two Islamic structures are the Dome of the rock and alhambra. It is likely that both structures were built for the same purpose. The Dome of the Rock has no distinct known purpose that modern investigators have discovered but it was likely to have been built with the purpose of impressing the region with the power and the emergence of Islamic control. alhambra was built as a palace complex to house the leaders of Granada and into likely establish the dynasty of the Nasrid. Although built toRead MoreDome of the Rock and Santa Costanza950 Words   |  4 Pagespeople of that time and they have faced great resistance. Early Islamic art and early Christian art both are historically important as both are similar in some ways. The most earliest architecture and first such structure from the Muslims is the Dome of the Rock located in Jerusalem. When the Muslims conquered the city of Jerusalem in they needed a place (Mosque) to worship and offer their prayers in congregation. At the s ame time they also wanted to build a monument that would show the success of MuslimsRead MoreEssay about The Dome of the Rock2341 Words   |  10 Pagesunchanged for more than thirteen centuries, the Dome of the Rock remains one of the worlds most beautiful and enduring architectural treasures. Adorned with its magnificent gold dome and elaborate quranic inscriptions, the structure intimately represents the worlds second largest religion in a city historically associated with the three Semitic faiths. Representation, however, is not the only effect of this site. Despite its intended purpose, the Dome of the Rock inherently stands as the focal center ofRead MoreReligious Significance The Pantheon And The Dome Of The Rock1652 Words   |  7 PagesThe Religious Significance the Pantheon and the Dome of the Rock Convey Architecture comes with many significant meanings, including religious significance. The Pantheon, built from 118 to 125 CE in Rome, Italy, was a temple made to worship the Roman gods and goddesses. This temple is one of the most important buildings both in history and architecture, influencing many other monuments with its form, such as The Dome of the Rock. The Dome of the Rock, built from 687 to 692 CE, was the first greatRead MoreHagia Sophia vs Dome of the Rock984 Words   |  4 Pagesa bridge between the real world and the divine world, and mirror religious views of people and the major beliefs of the society. Hagia Sophia and the Dome of the Rock are two of the greatest and the most important architectural monuments in the world. Even though two of the most historical mosques, Hagia Sophia and the Dome of the Rock, are built for different religions, but due to a sharing purpose, which being praying to God, the difference can barely be noticed. By sharing a purposeRead MoreCompare and Contrast St. Sernin to Dome of the Rock754 Words   |  4 Pagessites, the Dome of the Rock. I will be comparing what similarities and what differences these two great buildings have to one another. Let’s start with the differences, since these two buildings will probably have a lot. With the Basilica of St. Sernin we find that the floor plan is made to resemble a cross, where the Dome of the Rock has an octagon shaped outer wall. The entrance of the Basilica of St. Sernin has two arched entrances which are sunken in where in the Dome of the Rock the entrances