Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem 
Al-Aqsa Mosque from the northeast. Photo © www.HolyLandPhotos.org.
See all photos in our Al-Aqsa Mosque Photo Gallery.
Dome and rooftop of Al-Aqsa. Photo
Aaron F.
West exterior and fragments on display. Photo
Àlbum de fotografies.
Entrance and Crusader facade of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Photo © arròsalforn.
Interior of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, dating from 1035. Photo © Damon Lynch.
Arch mosaics and beautiful ceiling. Photo © Damon Lynch.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque (Arabic Masjid Al-Aqsa, "Distant Mosque" - also spelled El-Aksa) is an important mosque in Jerusalem. It is part of the complex of religious buildings known as the Haram esh-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews, and is the third holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina.
History
The first Al-Aqsa Mosque was constructed of wood by the Umayyads in 710 AD, only a few decades after the Dome of the Rock. The structure has been rebuilt at least five times; it was entirely destroyed at least once by earthquakes. The last major rebuild was in 1035.
When the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, Al-Aqsa became the headquarters of the Templars. Their legacy remains in the three central bays of the main facade. In the mid-14th century the Mamelukes added an extra two on either side, resulting in the seven bays that stand today.
What to See
The Al-Aqsa Mosque occupies the south side of the Haram/Temple Mount and is oriented north to south. The entrance and main facade is on the north side, directly facing the Dome of the Rock; the dome is at the south end.
The three central bays of the facade are Romanesque in style, with the zigzag decoration and blind arches seen more commonly in 11th- and 12th-century European churches. The outer arches added by the Mamelukes follow the same general design. Entrance is through the central arch.
The interior of the Al-Aqsa Mosque contains many 20th-century additions, most notably marble columns donated by Benito Mussolini and a painted ceiling funded by King Farouk of Egypt.
Some older elements survive, however, including the mihrab, decorated in 1187 under Saladin, and the mosaics above the central aisle arch and around the drum of the dome, dating from 1035.
| Names: | El-Aksa; Al-Aqsa Mosque; Masjid Al-Aqsa; Distant Mosque |
| Type of site: | Mosque |
| Location: | Next to Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem |
| Phone: | 02/628-3292 or 02/628-3313 |
| Hours: | Approximate summer hrs: Sat.-Thurs. 7:30-11 and 1:30-3; winter hrs: 8-10:30 and 12:30-2 |
| Cost: | Combined ticket for El-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, and Islamic Museum NIS 36 |
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Jerusalem Map or get our free Google Earth download.
- Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem - Atlas Tours
- El-Aqsa Mosque - Fodor's Online Travel Guide
