#damascus mosque

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Great Mosque at Damascus, Syria. 705-715. Constructed under Umayyad Caliph al Walid.

Though damaged by fire in 1863, the mosque remains characteristically Umayyad. As with the Dome of the Rock, the building is beautifully decorated, with the lower half covered in marble plaque and the top tier in full mosaic. The mosaics of the mosque are of large landscapes. Houses and pavilions divided by tall trees near a flowing river portray a heavenly scene. Aniconism is evident in the absence of people and animal representations.

[Great Mosque: overview]

[artamendment]

Great Mosque at Damascus, Syria. 705-715. Constructed under the Umayyad Caliph al Walid.

What is now the Great Mosque was originally a Roman Temple, then converted to a church by Byzantines. Al Walid remastered the church plan, resulting in a somewhat unusual mosque style.

Deconstructing the church opened a courtyard, while the original enclosure walls were maintained. A prayer hall was constructed against the wall facing Mecca, it's southern wall, making the qibla. The church's facade was inverted to face the court, setting a trend for courtyard mosques in the future. The prayer hall is composed of three aisles, divided by thick stone columns salvaged from past architecture. Under the wooden dome and unique gable lies a screened space for ceremonies called a maqsura. The maqsura includes the minbar, a stepped platform where the imam or caliph lead prayers.

Click here for a 3D digital tour, check it out!