Caminante, no hay camino: Islam in Jerusalem

Today's focus was the presence of Islam in Jerusalem. We set off bright and early to visit the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque. This was a bit of a privilage: many get to walk around the plaza and see the mosque and the Dome of the Rock from the outside. We were invited inside both.

Lions' Gate - note the bullet holes...

After entering the Old City through the Lions' Gate we entered the plaza of the Dome of the Rock. Our guide, a Moslem Palestinian was waiting. We were escorted by an official of the mosque to the plaza. His English wasn't too flash, but he made clear his welcome. He accompanied us throughout.

Just inside the plaza

Al Aqsa Mosque

The main aisle - there are 7

Detail of the ceiling

The dome is under repair - after being burned by an Australian Jew...

Detail of a window

A capital - left over from Crusader times. Moslems don't allow depiction of animals.

Decoration of the end wall

Quran

Not a Moslem!

From the Al Aqsa mosque we put our shoes on and were taken to the Dome of the Rock Mosque across the courtyard. This is revered by Moslems as being built over the place Mohammed leapt into heaven to receive the Five Pillars of Islam before returning and conversing with the prophets in a cave underneath.

The Dome of the Rock

The Entrance

Detail of the Ceiling

Mosaics on the roof arches

A fruit theme

Beneath the golden dome - under restoration. The script is about Mary, mother of Jesus

Where pilgrims place their hands to touch the rock from which Mohammed leapt to heaven

The outer part of the mosque

The arches of judgement

Got the photo!

Afterwards we visited some other Islamic places in the Old City - some that had been Christian, converted to Islamic after the Moslem conquest, back to Christian during the Crusades and then back to Islamic under Ottoman rule.

Roman Ruins at St Anne's Church

The Crusader Church at St Annes

The grotto believed to be the birthplace of Mary

The birth of Mary - a Russian Icon

Roman Cistern under St Anne's

Roman, Byzantium and Crusader ruins...

An Islamic School entrance - Arab Quarter, Jerusalem

A Minaret

The little Wailing Wall - right in the Arab Quarter

The Little Wailing Wall in the Arab Quarter - deserted today, but groups of Jews will come here to establish rights on Holy Days

A street in the Arab Quarter

A Sabil - a Public Water Fountain built by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent incorporating recycled middle ages decorations. The base is probably a Roman sarcophagus!

The Mosque of Omar - once in Arab territory, now in the Jewish Quarter. Now not used by Moslems.

Crusader detail of a Pelican on a capital in the Cenacle. This was the chapel of the Last Supper. Then used as a mosque. Now open as a Holy Place for Moslems and Christians.