Dome of the Rock

Introduction
Architecture
Historical context and construction
Purpose and significance

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Images & Videos

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Israel, features a large gold dome and ornate blue and gold exterior, set against a backdrop of densely packed stone buildings.

Map of the Old City of Jerusalem divided into four color-coded quarters: Christian Quarter in blue, Muslim Quarter in yellow, Jewish Quarter in pink, and Armenian Quarter in green. Major streets, gates, religious sites, and landmarks such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, and Al-Aqsa Mosque are labeled. An inset locator map shows the Old City's position within Jerusalem and the region.

At a Glance

Dome of the Rock summary

Quizzes

Gutzon Borglum. Presidents. Sculpture. National park. George Washington. Thomas Jefferson. Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota.

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Related Questions

How did Ariel Sharon’s 2000 visit to the Temple Mount contribute to the second intifada?
How does the Dome of the Rock differ from Al-Aqsa Mosque?
How does the Dome of the Rock reflect Byzantine architectural traditions?
How is the Dome of the Rock connected to the Temple Mount?
How is the Dome of the Rock connected with Muhammad’s Miʿrāj, or ascent to heaven?
How is the Dome of the Rock related to Muhammad’s Isrāʾ journey from Mecca?
How is the rock beneath the Dome of the Rock connected to the Jewish Foundation Stone tradition?
How many sides does the Dome of the Rock have?
How may the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have influenced the Dome of the Rock’s design?
How tall are the exterior walls of the Dome of the Rock?
How was the Dome of the Rock restored and redecorated in the 20th century?
How wide is the Dome of the Rock’s central dome?
What architectural shape forms the base of the Dome of the Rock?
What changes did Ottoman Sultan Süleyman I make to the exterior of the Dome of the Rock?
What do the Arabic inscriptions inside the Dome of the Rock emphasize?
What features of the Dome of the Rock show the development of an early Islamic visual style?
What is the purpose of the railing around the exposed sacred rock in the Dome of the Rock?
What kinds of patterns appear in the mosaics of the Dome of the Rock?
What materials decorate the interior and exterior of the Dome of the Rock?
When was the Dome of the Rock completed in Jerusalem?
Where does the stairway beneath the sacred rock in the Dome of the Rock lead?
Where in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock located?
Which Islamic dynasties renovated and added decorations to the Dome of the Rock?
Which Umayyad caliph ordered the construction of the Dome of the Rock?
Which earlier Jewish temple stood on the site of the Dome of the Rock?
Who replaced the Crusaders’ iron screen with the wooden screen around the sacred rock?
Why did the Crusaders place a wrought-iron screen around the rock inside the Dome of the Rock?
Why do Muslims call the plaza around the Dome of the Rock Al-Ḥaram al-Sharīf?
Why do modern scholars question the claim that the Dome of the Rock was built to replace the Kaaba as a pilgrimage destination?
Why do the mosaics in the Dome of the Rock avoid images of people and animals?
Why has access to the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque become a source of tension in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Why is the Dome of the Rock not designed like a congregational mosque?
Why is the Temple Mount important to Jews as well as Muslims?
Why is the original purpose of the Dome of the Rock uncertain?
Why is the rock beneath the Dome of the Rock sacred in Islamic tradition?
Why is the term Al-Aqsa Mosque sometimes used for the whole plaza containing the Dome of the Rock?
Who first inhabited Jaffa?
What significant event took place in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Philosophy & Religion Religious Places

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External Websites

Bridgewater State University - Virtual Commons - The Dome of the Rock and the Politics of Restoration
Smarthistory - The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhra)

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Dome of the Rock - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Dome of the Rock - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Dome of the Rock

shrine, Jerusalem

Also known as: Qubbat al-Ṣakhrah

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Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

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Last updated

Oct. 12, 2026 •History

Dome of the Rock, shrine in Jerusalem built by the Umayyad caliph ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān in the late 7th century ce. It is the oldest extant Islamic monument. The structure is situated on a flat elevated plaza known to Muslims as al-Ḥaram al-Sharīf (“The Noble Sanctuary”) and to Jews as the Temple Mount (the site where the Temple of Jerusalem once stood). According to Muslims, the rock above which the dome is constructed is...

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