Dome of the Rock Interior: Center Circle

The interior of the Dome of the Rock lives up to the beauty of its exterior, and even surpasses it. (Hover your mouse over the photo to locate the following sights.) Most of what we see here is the center circle, which surrounds the sacred rock. The circle consists of 4 large pillars and 12 slender marble columns, which were recycled from previous structures. Above us is the drum and then the cupola, the inside of the golden dome that can be seen from all over the city. The carved ceilings outside of the circle first appeared in the 14th century; the Mamluk star is a dominant motif. The arches that can be seen behind the columns form the inner octagon, of which we get a closer view in the next photo. (This photo © Damon Lynch.)