Dome of the Rock

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the city Jerusalem is one of the most venerated holy locations in the world and that not only Christianity and Judaism, but also Islam has many venerable sites of worship within the city. All three major religions in the world are therefore focused upon this city in the religious meaning of their worship. The writer points out that as such, The Dome of the Rock is an edifice that carries important meaning for the Islamic religion. The building is also however the focus of many different interpretations in terms of both iconography and purpose. The paper considers these in light of the building's history and mosaic decorations. The writer concludes that the majesty of the structure of the Dome of the Rock, along with the significance of its artistic decoration surpasses the boundaries of culture. Indeed, the very fact of its intercultural influence indicates the Dome's significance to a widely intercultural audience.

Outline:
History and Purpose
Iconography and Meaning

From the Paper:

"According to Martin Gray, the history of Jerusalem itself is strongly integrated with the Dome of the Rock. The city saw a brief period of Persian rule, after which it was captured by the Muslim Caliph Umar in 638. Wanting to establish Islam in the city, the ruler first built a small mosque on the Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock, according to the author, was basically a reaction to the majesty of the Christian structure, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In constructing the more spectacular Dome of the Rock as a place of worship for Islam, Arab conquerors had a two-fold purpose in mind: first, to proclaim the supremacy of their religion, and secondly to discourage new Islam adherents from converting to Christianity. In other words, the builders wished to ensure that their manifestation of earthly wealth and majesty surpassed that of Christianity."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Associates for Scriptural Knowledge. The Secret key to the Dome of the Rock. Oct 1, 1999. http://www.askelm.com/temple/t991001.htm
• Ettinghausen, Richard and Grabar, Oleg. Extract from The Art and Architecture of Islam 650-1250 (pp. 28-34). New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1994. http://www.thehope.org/domerock.htm
• Garaudy, Roger. The Dome of the Rock. American Muslim Council, 1997. http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/domerock.htm
• Gray, Martin. Places of Peace and Power: Jarusalem, Israel. 1983-2006. http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/israel/jerusalem.html
• Hayut-Ma'n, Yitzhak. Invetsigation of the Dome of the Rock. 2002. http://www.thehope.org/domeinvs.htm

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