Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Prayer hall. Video. Umayyad Mosque - the great mosque of Damascus Mosque in Syria where they wait for Jesus

Citadel.

Construction of the citadel began in 1076. At that time, the citadel was the residence of the ruler, where his chambers, barracks, guards, warehouses, mint, prison, mosque and family graves were located. Only twice a year, on great religious holidays, the ruler left the fortress steppes to visit the main shrine of the city - the Umayyad mosque.
The citadel acquired its current appearance in the 13th century, when it was strengthened by Sultan Malik Adil, the brother of Salah ad-Din. It took 12 years to strengthen and rebuild the citadel. But everything was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1260.

Under Sultan Baybars, the fortress was revived, but in 1400, during the invasion of Tamerlane, it was again badly damaged.
It has not been restored since then. Until 1985, there was a prison here. In recent years, restoration work and excavations have been carried out here.
Located next to the citadel and the entrance to the covered market monument to Saladin- the legendary sultan who began a victorious war with the crusaders.
Next to the citadel and the monument is the entrance to the Old Town and the famous Hamidiya market (Souk al-Hamidiya).

Hamidiya market. Morning.

Hamidiya market. Evening.

Once there was a city gate, Bab al-Nasr (Victory Gate), but it was dismantled in 1864. The market is named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II, under whom the market was covered with an iron roof in 1885. This place has been a trading place since ancient times.

Bakdash Ice Cream.Damascus. Syria.
Don't pass by Bakdash Ice Cream- This is one of the most famous ice cream shops in Syria, the shop-cafe was opened in Hamidiya in 1885. Thick and elastic ice cream is made from powder of dried orchid tubers and mastic tree resins, sprinkled with pistachios on top. The ice cream is so thick that the ice cream makers constantly knead the ice cream, beating out a rhythm.

At the end of the market street, 12-meter columns rise, supporting a fragment of the pediment - this is what remains of Ancient Roman Temple of Jupiter, built in the 3rd century.

Temple of Jupiter. Damascus. Syria.

Umayyad Mosque considered one of the most famous mosques in the world.

The outer walls of the marking were lined with houses, which the Ottoman authorities began to demolish. However, when the Turks left, the owners of the houses returned and rebuilt. In the 80s The mosque was again cleared away from the houses and a small square was built.

In the square in front of the Umayyad Mosque. Damascus.

The wall surrounding the mosque is very old. Temples have been built here since ancient times.

Wall around the Umayyad Mosque.

First, the Arameans erected a sanctuary to their god Hadad, then the Romans - a temple to Jupiter of Damascus, in the 4th century. Byzantine Emperor Theodosius erected the Basilica of St. Zacharias, in 635 the temple was divided into two parts - Christian and Muslim.
In 708, Caliph Walid, wanting to build in Damascus a mosque worthy of his dynasty was confiscated by St. John's Cathedral, in which Muslims and Christians had prayed side by side for 70 years - some in the western half, others in the eastern.
Talented architects and artisans from all over the country were involved in the construction of the mosque, and the best materials were used. The Umayyad Mosque was supposed to personify the glory and power of the Arab state and amaze with the luxury and beauty of its decoration.

The northern minaret or minaret of the Bride dates back to 705, but its upper part was completed later. The southeastern minaret of Isa, i.e. Jesus was erected in 1347 on the ruins of the tower of the Temple of Jupiter. According to legend, Jesus Christ will descend to earth through this minaret on the eve of the Last Judgment. The southwestern minaret of Muhammad was also built on the site of an ancient tower before the 12th century.
The mosque suffered from major fires 11 times, the last of which was in 1893. Each time the mosque was restored.

The entrance for tourists is on the left side. Here you can buy a ticket (50 SP), women receive dark capes (bare shoulders, arms and head are not allowed). When entering the mosque, both women and men must remove their shoes.

An elegant structure on eight columns - Qubbat al-Khazna- a treasury into which there is no access directly from the ground (787) Once in one of the treasuries the theft of government money stored there “under the protection of Allah” was committed, since then they began to build treasuries without entry from the ground.

In the center of the yard - Qubbat an-Nofara- a fountain for ablutions with a pool (1200; dome - 18th century).

The walls of the mosque are decorated with faience tiles and mosaics (VIII-XIII centuries). The prayer hall has 22 doors, two rows of Corinthian columns divide the hall into three naves.

In the wall of the hall there are richly decorated niches called "mihrab". Initially, the mihrab was a place of honor for the caliph; later it began to simply designate the qibla - the direction towards Mecca, where the faces of those praying should be turned.

Umayyad Mosque. Mihrab. Damascus. Syria.

The Umayyads entered the mosques minbars- pulpits for reading the Koran and delivering sermons. A tall minbar with a staircase is usually located to the left of the mihrab.
In the prayer hall there is cancer of St. John the Baptist.

Umayyad Mosque. Shrine of St. John the Baptist.

Here lies the head of the saint, which, according to legend, was found in 705 in one of the underground crypts during the reconstruction of the basilica into a mosque. If you believe the legend, Caliph Walid wanted to remove this shrine and even began to dig up the head himself, but when he touched the skull, he became numb; believing in a miracle, the Caliph decided to leave the Christian relic in place. This place is equally revered by both Christians and Muslims. Saint John the Baptist in the Muslim tradition is the prophet Yahya.

Nearby are a Byzantine well and font.
In the portico of the eastern wall there is a sanctuary where he rests Hussein's head- son of the fourth “righteous caliph” Ali. This is a place of pilgrimage for Shiites. There are two trash cans inside the room; in one is the head of Hussein, killed by Umayyad soldiers in 680 at the Battle of Karbala (Iraq), in the second is a strand of the Prophet’s hair.

In the same courtyard where the entrance for tourists is located Mausoleum of Salah ad-Din- the legendary Arab sultan, the commander who began a victorious war with the crusading knights, whom Europeans called Saladin.

Open 9.00-16.00 seven days a week

Saladin, Salah ad-Din Yusuf Ibn Ayyub (in Arabic Salah ad-Din means "Honor of the Faith"), the first Sultan of Egypt from the Ayyubid dynasty. Born in Tekrit in 1138 (modern Iraq). By origin, Saladin was an Armenian Kurd. His father Ayyub ibn Shadi and uncle Asad ad-Din Shirkukh, sons of Shadi Ajdanakan, were military leaders in the army of Zengi.
In 1139, Ayyub received control of Baalbek from Zengi, and in 1146, after his death, he supported Zengi’s second son, the future unifier of Syria, Nur ad-Din, and helped him conquer Aleppo. Thus, Saladin was brought up at the Aleppo court, he received an education in the best traditions of Muslim culture.
His career can be divided into three periods: the conquest of Egypt (1164 - 1174), the annexation of Syria and Mesopotamia (1174 - 1186), the conquest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and other campaigns against Christians (1187 - 1192).
The conquest of Egypt was necessary for Nur ad-Din. Egypt threatened his power from the south and was a stronghold of heretical caliphs.
In 1164, Nur ad-Din decided to send a corps to Egypt to help the Fatimid state repel the Crusader invasion. The corps was led by Shirkuh, with whom his brother Ayyub and his son Salah ad-Din went. After several years spent in battle, Shirkuh became vizier under the Fatimid caliph, but he died suddenly in 1169. He was succeeded by Saladin.
After the Fatimid caliph Adid died in 1171 and Nur ad-Din in 1174, power over Egypt and Syria was concentrated in the hands of Saladin.
Saladin founded his Ayyubid dynasty. He restored the Sunni faith in Egypt in 1171. And in 1174 he entered Damascus, took Hams and Hama, and in 1175 captured Baalbek and the cities surrounding Aleppo.
Saladin owed his success primarily to his well-trained regular army of Turkish slaves (Mamluks), consisting of horse archers and horse spearmen.
The next step was to achieve political independence.

Salah ad-Din constantly fought with the crusaders. In 1187, a decisive battle took place near Hittin between Christians and Muslims. Saladin avoided battle for a long time, firing at the crusaders with bows. Under the scorching rays of the sun, the knights roasted in their heavy armor. When they reached their limit, Salah ad-Din managed to separate the crusader cavalry from the infantry and defeated it. Few of the crusaders managed to survive or avoid capture. Even the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Guido Lusignan, was captured, but was released with honors on an oath never again to raise a sword against Muslims (which he later violated). Also taken prisoner was the Grand Master of the Templar Order, Raynald of Chatillon, whom Saladin personally executed.
After the Battle of Hittin, Saladin's victories followed one after another, including Saladin capturing Jerusalem and performing a ritual of its purification, while showing magnanimity towards Christians. The townspeople were released for a ransom; those who could not pay the ransom were enslaved.
This turn of events puzzled Christian Europe.
Another crusade took place, one of the leaders of which was the King of England, Richard I the Lionheart. King Philip II Augustus of France and German Emperor Frederick I also took part in the campaign. Richard the Lionheart recaptured some of the cities and fortresses from Saladin. Among them was Acre, when the Muslim garrison capitulated without Saladin's permission. Richard I put 2,000 hostages to death. Salah ad-Din was upset by the severity of the enemy; in such cases, he himself gave captives into slavery.
But this did not stop him from arranging the marriage of his younger brother and sister Richard I, after which a peace was concluded in November 1192, under the terms of which the interior of Syria was recognized as Muslim with the right of unhindered passage for Christian pilgrims, and Palestine was divided approximately equally.
History has confirmed that this was a wise move on the part of Salah ad-Din, which allowed the Arabs to gain a foothold in the conquered territories and prepare for a further attack on the possessions of the crusaders.
Salah ad-Din died in March 1193 of fever at the age of 55. He was buried in Damascus and mourned throughout the East.
His grave is one of the places revered by Muslims. He became famous as an outstanding commander and defender of Islam, as a patron of education, who founded schools and seminaries in Egypt and Syria.

Streets of Old Damascus.

Streets of Old Damascus.

The era of the reign of the Umayyads (661 - 750), the first dynasty of the Arab Caliphate, was marked by the complete victory of Islam over a vast territory from Afghanistan. The lands that had been in the orbit of Greco-Roman and then Byzantine culture for centuries became part of a completely different world in a matter of years. This became possible only thanks to the balanced policy of the first caliphs, who were tolerant of Christians and Jews and willingly borrowed the achievements of local culture from the conquered lands.

The nomadic Arabs had no idea about monumental architecture; Muslims prayed in the open air, and the first mosques were simply fenced courtyards. However, when confronted with the urban culture of the Middle East, the caliphs realized its many charms and wished to affirm the victory of Islam by building impressive religious monuments. The best masters of Persia, regardless of their religion, were involved in the fascinating process of creating new architecture.

The Umayyad Mosque (Jam Bani Umay), built in the new capital of the empire, the city of Damascus (Syria) in 715, became a valuable landmark of the era. The place where the mosque was built has been considered sacred for two thousand years. In the 1st millennium BC. e. here stood the Aramaic temple of the god Hadad; in the Roman era, the temple of Jupiter was erected in its place. Emperor Theodosius ordered it to be destroyed and the Christian Church of John the Baptist to be built. When Damascus was captured by Muslims, they did not destroy the church and did not take it away from the Christians, but prayed in the temple with them, because they revered the Baptist under the name of the prophet Yahya. However, then Caliph al-Walid I bought the church from the Christian community and ordered it to be dismantled and a mosque erected in its place.

In full accordance with the tastes of the early Muslims, the Umayyad Mosque is an open rectangular courtyard that can accommodate many hundreds of believers. However, the perimeter of this courtyard is decorated with a two-tiered colonnade, made in Byzantine forms, and in the direction of Mecca rises a huge three-nave prayer hall, not unlike a Byzantine basilica. Greek masters covered the outer walls and galleries of the hall with wonderful mosaics, which in their style do not in any way resemble Arab art. Cypress trees, flowers and birds, landscapes of cities with domes and colonnades seem to have come out of an Orthodox icon, and the golden background of the mosaic, changing and shimmering under the southern sun, makes one remember the walls of the churches of Ravenna and Constantinople.

Muslims highly reverence the ancient shrine. They claim that the real head of John the Baptist is kept in it and it is here that the prophet Isa, whom we know under the name Jesus Christ, will appear on earth during the second coming.

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on the map

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Occupying a significant area (157 * 100 m), the mosque is divided into a three-nave prayer hall 37 m deep and a spacious courtyard. The main axis, oriented across the nave, is fixed by a dome on pylons with a three-part arch between the pylons on the courtyard side and the main mihrab located against the wall - a sacred niche decorated with decor. The two-tier arcades of the interior are approximately 15 m high and carry a flat beamed ceiling. The arches, open to the courtyard, rest on square pillars; the internal arches, slightly horseshoe-shaped and slightly pointed, rest on marble Corinthian columns, the details of which indicate their Byzantine origin. The Byzantine influence is also evidenced by the preserved ornaments in the interior decoration: the bottom of the walls was lined with marble, the upper part up to the ceiling was completely covered with mosaics on a golden background. In terms of the total area of mosaic images, the mosque surpassed Byzantine examples. However, the interpretation of forms here is distinctive. The multi-columned hall, which has 19 naves and over 600 columns, is dominated by an original arcade of two tiers of self-supporting arches. The combination of a “forest of columns” visible in perspective with openwork arches, emphasized by wedge-shaped masonry of white and red stones, forms a rich and colorful pattern in space, imbued with a complex ornamental rhythm. At the same time, the proportionate construction of the arcade in plan and height is subject to strict logic. The main nave and individual under-dome cells are highlighted. The interiors under the domes, accentuated by the decor, are decorated with a complex system of intersecting arches - semi-circular, three and five-lobed.

The mosque contains a treasury which is said to contain the head of John the Baptist (Yahya), revered as a prophet by both Christians and Muslims. The head may have been found during excavations during the construction of the mosque. The mosque also contains the tomb of Salah ad-Din, located in a small garden adjacent to the northern wall of the mosque. The Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus can accommodate 10 thousand worshipers inside and 20 thousand people in the courtyard.

Muslim worship, which consists of common prayer and reading the Koran, is limited to the church set. In the prayer hall, next to the mihrab, a minbar was erected - an elevation for the preacher. Usually the minbar looks like a very high chair on a pedestal with a steep ladder and is lined with carved wooden panels. The floor on which Muslims sat was covered with a carpet. And old massive Korans were placed on wooden, beautifully decorated stands.

An example of this kind of architectural monument are some of the famous mosques: Qubbat al-Sakhra or the “Dome of the Rock” and the Ahmed Mosque. This centric, domed building forms a circle in plan, surrounded by two octagonal arcades. Or the Umayyad mosque created in 705-715 in Damascus, the capital of Syria.

"Dome of the Rock"

Next to the mosque there are minarets, which are a tall, thin, circular tower with a balcony. In different centers and in different historical periods, unique types of minarets are created, differing in size, proportions and compositions. The practical significance of the minaret lies in the public call of the faithful to prayer, which is performed by a special employee at the mosque - the muezzin. He climbed the stairs enclosed within the tower.

Mosques with their minarets are a striking distinctive feature of Arab architecture and the entire Muslim world. They fascinate with their size and beauty of the arches, with their ornaments and mosaics. However, no less beautiful are the palaces intended for the ruler’s rest, as well as for personal receptions.

The main techniques in the field of Arab architecture are the presence of a courtyard principle of organizing a building plan with galleries along the perimeter of the courtyard, flat coverings and roofs, and in central rooms - specific elevated outlines with a slightly pointed dome.

Israel. The Mosque of the Rock in Jerusalem, one of the most important shrines of Islam, is located on a site that had great religious significance long before the rise of Islam.

The Dome of the Rock mosque was built between 688 and 692. It is the oldest surviving Muslim building in the world, although it is called "non-Muslim" because its form is influenced by early Christian architecture. The Mosque of the Rock is not only the third holiest shrine in Islam, but also the most magnificent architectural monument in the Middle East. And indeed, the mosque, erected above the rock, is like a dome covering this sacred place.

It is said that the mosque's dome was originally made of gold, but historical documents say that the dome was covered with a lead roof and the outer surface with sheets of gilded copper. The lead roof remained until 1964, when, during renovations to the mosque, the dome was covered with aluminum sheets that were chemically given the color of gold. Its diameter is 20 meters, and the height of the dome is 34 meters; it is clearly visible from almost all points of Jerusalem. The dome is located on a base supported by stone columns.

The outer walls of the mosque are octagonal and made with arcades. They were originally covered with glass mosaics, but in the 16th century they were replaced with Muslim-style tiles. Inside, the mosque is divided into three circles by two rows of columns, which allows pilgrims in whole processions to move freely around the rock located in the center. Under the stone there is a cave, into which eleven steps lead. And in the ceiling of the cave there is a hole through which the blood of sacrificial animals flowed.

The Rock Mosque has four doors oriented to the four cardinal points. The northern entrance is called the Gate of Paradise, the eastern one is called the Gate of David. The southern entrance is considered the central one, and opposite it stands the facade of another mosque - Al-Aqsa. Inside the Rock Mosque there is an amazing mosaic with patterns that are clearly influenced by Byzantine art. Its walls are decorated with ornaments with inscriptions - an indispensable decorative element of Islamic painting. One of the inscriptions recalls the builder of the mosque - Caliph Abdul al-Malik from the Umayyad dynasty. A later caliph from the Abbasid dynasty took credit for the construction of the mosque and changed the inscription.

This is one of the most famous mosques in the world. It was built on the site of previous, more ancient temples. Three thousand years ago, an Aramaic temple to the god Hadad stood here. At the beginning of our era, the “palm” was taken over by the Romans. They erected the Temple of Jupiter, which was destroyed by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius at the end of the 4th century. There are many colonnades around the mosque left from the ancient temple, apparently Theodosius didn’t try very hard. He built the huge Basilica of St. John. The Muslims who captured Damascus used this cathedral for a long time together with Christians. Christians prayed in the eastern part of the basilica, and Muslims in the western.

In 708, Caliph Walid confiscated the building of St. John's Cathedral, giving other churches to Christians. He began to build a mosque worthy of his huge caliphate. The Umayyad Mosque took more than 10 years to build. It must be said that the builders largely preserved the ancient walls of the cathedral and the three main gates. The three minarets of the mosque also have ancient foundations.

Western wall of the mosque and minaret of the Prophet Muhammad.

The minaret was restored after a fire by the Mamluk Sultan Kait Bey in 1488. Therefore, it is often called the Kait Bey minaret.

The main entrance to the mosque is also located here - the Bab al-Barid gate. On the square in front of this gate there is an entrance to the famous market - Souq al-Hamidiya, so it is always very crowded here.
Gate Bab al-Barid (view from the courtyard)

I entered the mosque through the northern gate - Bab al-Faradis. Entrance to the mosque is paid, but here they didn’t ask me for a ticket, although it costs a few pennies - a little more than a dollar. Probably, the gatekeepers were too lazy to bother with me, the only thing they monitor very strictly is that women wear special capes, which are immediately distributed or sold, I did not specify...
Gateway to Paradise...Bab al-Faradis

The northern minaret or Minaret of the Bride dates back to the early 8th century.

Minaret of the Bride and Azan in the Umayyad Mosque

In the center of the courtyard there is a fountain for ablutions - Qubbat al-Nofara

At the western portal there is an interesting structure - the treasury of Qubbat al-Khazna (787). There is no way into it directly from the ground; there are similar treasuries in many Islamic mosques.

The courtyard of the mosque became famous due to the numerous mosaics of the western portal. The panel depicting the Gardens of Eden stands out especially.
The Garden of Eden and the palaces in it.

The mosaics were made by Byzantine craftsmen during the time of Caliph Walid, and then were painted over by some very pious successor. This is what ensured that they reached us in good condition.

Mosaic on the facade of the prayer hall.

The southeastern minaret of the prophet Isa - Jesus Christ. According to local legend, he will descend to earth along this minaret on the eve of the Last Judgment...

Details of the ancient basilica - the predecessor of the current mosque.

Central mihrab and minbar of the Umayyad Mosque
Chapel of St. John the Baptist (aka Prophet Yahya in the Koran). Here is the head of the saint, allegedly found in 705 during the reconstruction of the basilica into a mosque.

Namaz at the Umayyad Mosque

Between the men's and women's parts of the prayer hall there is a kind of “alienation” strip - an empty space...

Men, of course, are closer to the mihrabs.
Women's "gallery"

Alone with the Lord...

Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world. There is a legend that somewhere in these places Cain killed Abel. And the city itself arose around the 11th century BC and until 732 BC. e. was the capital of the Damascus kingdom. Millennia passed, the peoples inhabiting Damascus changed, and the temples of some gods were replaced by the temples of the gods of others...

Jamia al Umayyi, otherwise the Great Mosque, or the Umayyad Mosque, is located in the center of the old city, on the site where the ancient Roman temple of Jupiter of Damascus once stood (even earlier there was an Aramaic temple on this site). The beauty and grandeur of this ancient temple today can be judged by the few fragments spared by time and people - for example, the six-column Arc de Triomphe, sixteen meters high. It is believed that the entire architectural ensemble of the Temple of Jupiter was finally formed by the 3rd century, and already in the next century, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius (379-395), it was partially destroyed. From the rubble of its southern wall, the Byzantines built an Orthodox cathedral in the name of John the Baptist. A Christian shrine was sacredly kept in this cathedral - the head of John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, killed by order of King Herod. The Byzantines were replaced by Arabs. In 705, Caliph Walid ben Abd-el-Malik of the Umayyad dynasty wished to decorate his capital Damascus with a magnificent monument worthy of the splendor of the ruling dynasty. It was to eclipse all other monumental buildings in the Arab world. The Umayyad Mosque became a stronghold and shrine of Islam, the first religious building to reflect the religious beliefs of Muslims in architectural form.

It was decided to build a new mosque on the site of the Byzantine Church of John the Baptist. It was dismantled and its materials were used to build a mosque. From all the then centers of world culture - Athens, Rome, Constantinople, the countries of the Arab East - the best artists, architects, and stone craftsmen were invited.

More than twelve thousand workers worked on the construction of the mosque for ten years. Mother-of-pearl, pearls, and gold were widely used to decorate the interiors of the mosque.

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus: description, relics and shrines

Decorated with mosaics on a golden background, inlaid with marble carvings, even today, thirteen centuries later, having gone through dozens of wars, fires, looting and many years of desolation, the mosque amazes with its grandeur and splendor of forms. You can imagine what it was like in the first years of its history! At that time, mosaics even covered the walls of the mosque's courtyard.

Powerful blank walls separate the mosque from the noisy city. Four gates lead to the mosque courtyard. Their portals are lined with ceramic tiles and mosaics from the Umayyad era. The courtyard of the mosque is paved with square stone slabs and has the shape of a rectangle 125 meters long and 50 meters wide. The courtyard is surrounded on three sides by a vaulted gallery, and on the fourth side there is a prayer hall. In one of the corners of the courtyard there is a stone octagonal pavilion with a dome, raised on eight high columns with magnificent capitals. This is "Kubbat el-Khazneh", the treasury of the caliphs. The treasury of the Umayyad dynasty was once kept here. All eight sides of the treasury are covered with floral patterns.

At the opposite end of the courtyard there is a stone gazebo with a sundial. Its dome also rests on eight columns, and none of the columns is similar to the other - they were probably taken from different buildings at one time. In the middle of the courtyard, as is customary, there is a traditional fountain and a pool for ablutions.

On the south side of the courtyard there is a prayer hall building. Once its courtyard facade was an open arcade; now the windows and arched spans are covered with wooden walls and stained glass windows.

The prayer hall is huge. Its length is 136 meters and its width is 37 meters. The vaults go up. Graceful steep arches rest on forty powerful Corinthian columns. Columns are also installed on the arches, which bear the weight of the lead roof. In the center of the hall, four massive columns support a giant dome. On the southern side there are four mihrabs - niches in the wall of the mosque indicating the direction to Mecca. Of the four mihrabs, the Great Mihrab, closest to the pulpit, stands out for its finest decoration with mother-of-pearl and colored marble. The mihrab is an indispensable feature of any mosque, with the exception of one - the Haram Beit Ullah mosque above the Kaaba stone in Mecca. It is to her that the mihrabs of all mosques in the world face.

A steep staircase behind carved high doors leads to a high pulpit (minbar) made of white marble. From here, spiritual sermons are broadcast on radio throughout the country.

In the eastern part of the hall there is a marble pavilion topped with a dome, decorated with two green banners of Islam. Through its glass you can see a large tombstone. A Christian relic is buried here, which is also revered by Muslims - the head of John the Baptist (Muslims call him the prophet Yahya), discovered during restoration work in one of the crypts of the Orthodox Byzantine temple that stood on this site. Christianity and Islam are so closely intertwined in the Middle East!

The entire floor of the prayer hall is covered with luxurious carpets - these are donations from believers to the temple. The best decoration of the Umayyad Mosque is rightfully considered to be its mosaics. According to legend, the Caliph invited craftsmen from Constantinople to work on them. For a long time, the mosaics of the Umayyad mosque were hidden under a layer of plaster and only in 1927, through the efforts of restorers, they saw the light again. On numerous mosaic panels you can see Damascus of the Umayyad era - palaces, fruit trees, flowers, a clear, deep river.

The mosque hall is illuminated by heavy European-style crystal chandeliers. In the 19th century, the interior of the prayer hall changed its appearance somewhat. In particular, the windows and openings of the arches of the northern wall were decorated with bright, colorful stained glass windows.

Above the mosque, three minarets soar into the hot blue sky. The oldest of them is located in the center of the northern wall surrounding the mosque. It is called Al-Arouk - the minaret of the Bride and was built during the Umayyad era. Time has not completely preserved its original appearance. The minaret has been restored several times, and its upper part is made in a modern style. The western minaret, Al-Gharbiya, was built in the 15th century. Its rectangular tower, topped with a sharp spire, rises above the western entrance to the mosque courtyard.

The minaret, standing in the southeast corner, bears the name of... Jesus Christ! Nonsense? Not at all. Islam, as we know, does not reject Christ, but rejects his Divine origin and considers him a prophet. The Arabs call him "Issa ben Mariam" - "Jesus, son of Mary." The lower part of the minaret of Jesus Christ looks like a quadrangular tower, and the upper part resembles a faceted pencil. There is a legend that it is on this minaret that Jesus Christ will descend from heaven at the hour of the Second Coming, for the final battle with the Antichrist on the eve of the Last Judgment, and then from here, from the top of the minaret, he will carry out his judgment on the world...

The Umayyad Mosque is available for inspection by tourists of any religion for a small fee. Only women are given black capes to cover their faces, and when entering the mosque, according to tradition, they must remove their shoes. But is it possible, having visited Damascus, not to visit the legendary Jamia al Umayyi - the Umayyad Mosque, the pearl of the Middle East?

Damascus. Old city: citadel, Umayyad mosque.

Citadel. Damascus. Syria.

Hamidiya market. Morning.

Hamidiya market.

Umayyad Great Mosque (Damascus, Syria)

Umayyad Mosque considered one of the most famous mosques in the world.

In the square in front of the Umayyad Mosque. Damascus.

The wall surrounding the mosque is very old. Temples have been built here since ancient times.

Wall around the Umayyad Mosque.

First, the Arameans erected a sanctuary to their god Hadad, then the Romans - a temple to Jupiter of Damascus, in the 4th century. Byzantine Emperor Theodosius erected the Basilica of St. Zacharias, in 635 the temple was divided into two parts - Christian and Muslim.
In 708, Caliph Walid, wanting to build in Damascus a mosque worthy of his dynasty was confiscated by St. John's Cathedral, in which Muslims and Christians had prayed side by side for 70 years, some in the western half, others in the eastern.
Talented architects and artisans from all over the country were involved in the construction of the mosque, and the best materials were used. The Umayyad Mosque was supposed to personify the glory and power of the Arab state and amaze with the luxury and beauty of its decoration.

Umayyad Mosque. Damascus. Syria.

An elegant structure on eight columns - Qubbat al-Khazna- a treasury into which there is no access directly from the ground (787) Once in one of the treasuries, the theft of government money stored there “under the protection of Allah” was committed, since then they began to build treasuries without entry from the ground.

Qubbat al-Khazna. Damascus. Syria.

In the center of the yard - Qubbat an-Nofara- a fountain for ablutions with a pool (1200; dome - 18th century).

Qubbat an-Nofara. Damascus. Syria.

The walls of the mosque are decorated with faience tiles and mosaics (VIII-XIII centuries). The prayer hall has 22 doors, two rows of Corinthian columns divide the hall into three naves.

Umayyad Mosque. Damascus. Syria.

Umayyad Mosque. Mihrab. Damascus. Syria.

Umayyad Mosque. Damascus. Syria.

Umayyad Mosque. Shrine of St. John the Baptist.

Umayyad Mosque. Damascus. Syria.

In the same courtyard where the entrance for tourists is located Mausoleum of Salah ad-Din- the legendary Arab sultan, commander who began a victorious war with the crusading knights, whom Europeans called Saladin.

Open 9.00-16.00 seven days a week

Mausoleum of Salah ad-Din. Damascus. Syria.

Streets of Old Damascus.

Continuation: Old city: Zahiriyya Madrasah, Seyyid Ruqiya Mosque, Nuria Madrasah, Azem Palace, spice market.

1. Damascus is the most ancient capital of the world. City `s history.
2. Old city: citadel, Hamidiya market, Umayyad mosque.
3. Old city: Zahiriyya Madrasah, Seyyid Ruqiya Mosque, Nuria Madrasah, Azem Palace, spice market.
4. Old Town: Straight Street, Roman Arch, Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary, Bab Sharqi, Chapel of St. Paul, House of St. Ananias, Christian Quarter.
5. Marja Square, slopes of Kasyun.

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus: description, relics and shrines

Damascus. Old city: citadel, Umayyad mosque.

Umayyad Great Mosque (Damascus, Syria)

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