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What materials decorate the interior and exterior of the Dome of the Rock?

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The interior and exterior of the Dome of the Rock are decorated with marble, mosaics, and metal plaques.

The decorative elements include:

  • Mosaics: These feature Arabic script and vegetal patterns, often intermixed with images of jewels and crowns. Notably, they exclude representations of human or animal forms.
  • Inscriptions: Arabic religious inscriptions are prominently displayed around the octagonal arcade.
  • Ceramic Tiles: In the 16th century, the original exterior mosaics were replaced with coloured ceramic tiles by order of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman I.
  • Gold: In the 20th century, the dome received a new gold covering as part of restoration efforts.

While the structure was originally influenced by Byzantine traditions, its ornamentation has been modified by successive dynasties, including the Abbasids, Fatimids, and Ayyubids, who each added their own inscriptions and decorative touches.1