Umayyad Mosque

A major mosque in Damascus, Syria, built in the early eighth century on a site successively occupied by a Roman temple and a Christian cathedral. Its architecture and mosaics reflect the early Islamic caliphate's engagement with Byzantine and local traditions.

Great Mosque of Damascus: An alternative name for the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. This widely used name identifies the same building and distinguishes it from other Umayyad-era mosques.
Mihrab: A niche in a mosque wall indicating the direction of prayer toward Mecca. The mosque's prayer hall contains mihrabs that mark the qibla wall.
Umayyad Caliphate: The first hereditary caliphate, ruled by the Umayyad dynasty from 661 to 750. The caliphate's rulers commissioned the mosque as a major monument in their capital.
Umayyad Mosque mosaics: Byzantine-style glass mosaics created for the Umayyad Mosque, depicting idealized landscapes and architecture. They are the building's most celebrated surviving early decorations.
Great Mosque of Córdoba: A major mosque in Córdoba, Spain, begun under Umayyad rule in the eighth century. It offers a later example of how Umayyad architectural patronage developed in al-Andalus.
Umayyad architecture: The architectural traditions developed under the Umayyad caliphate, from the seventh to eighth centuries. The mosque is among the most prominent surviving examples of this architectural tradition.
Qibla: The direction Muslims face during prayer, toward the Kaaba in Mecca. The mosque's prayer hall is oriented toward this direction.
Al-Walid I: An Umayyad caliph who ruled from 705 to 715 and oversaw major building projects. He ordered the mosque's construction in the early eighth century.
Dome of the Eagle: A prominent dome above the central section of the Umayyad Mosque's prayer hall. Its position and scale make it a focal point within the interior.
Dome of the Rock: An Islamic shrine in Jerusalem, completed in 691 under the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik. Together, it and the Damascus mosque represent major Umayyad monuments with distinct forms and functions.

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Hisham ibn Abd al-MalikRelated: It stands as a monumental expression of the Syrian capital and dynasty Hisham ruled.