Interior of Dome of Rock Lives Up to Beauty of Its Exterior
The interior of the Dome of the Rock lives up to the beauty of its exterior, and even surpasses it. This photo shows 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 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.
Credit: Damon Lynch / PBase