The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is the oldest extant Islamic monument and one of the best-known. Built in 691–692, about 55 years after the Arab conquest of Jerusalem, the design and ornamentation are rooted in the Byzantine architectural tradition but also display traits that would later come to be associated with a distinctly Islamic architectural style. The structure consists of a gilded wooden dome sitting atop an octagonal base. Inside, two ambulatories circle around a patch of exposed rock. The site is sacred to both Judaism and Islam; in Jewish tradition it is said to be the spot where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac,and in Islamic tradition it is held to be the site of Muhammad’s ascent to heaven. The interior is richly decorated with marble, mosaics, and metal plaques.