The Umayyad Mosque (Damascus, Syria) is one of the most majestic and oldest temple buildings in the world. It also bears the name of the Great Mosque of Damascus. The value of this building for the architectural heritage of the country is simply colossal. Its location is also symbolic. The Umayyad Grand Mosque is located in Damascus, the oldest city in Syria.
Historical Background
The Umayyad Mosque is located in the capital of Syria - the city of Damascus. Archaeologists claim that this city is about 10,000 years old. There is only one city in the whole world older than Damascus - Jericho in Palestine. Damascus is the largest religious center of the entire Levant, and its highlight is rightfully the Umayyad Mosque. The Levant is a generalized name for all countries of the eastern Mediterranean, such as Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, etc.
After the Apostle Paul visited Damascus, a new religious movement appeared in the city - Christianity. And the fact that Damascus is mentioned several times in the Bible,also no coincidence. The end of the 11th century was fateful for the city. He was conquered by the king of the Israeli state David. Gradually, the Aramaic tribes in this territory began the foundation of a new kingdom, which then included Palestine. In 333 BC. Damascus was captured by the army of Alexander the Great, and in 66 by the Roman army, after which it became a province of Syria.
Umayyad Mosque (Damascus). Chronicles
On the site of the construction of the mosque in the Aramaic era (approximately 3 thousand years ago) was the Temple of Hadad, in which the Arameans held worship. The chronicles testify that Jesus Christ himself spoke their language. This is evidenced by excavations, thanks to which bas alt steles depicting a sphinx were found in the northeastern corner of the Great Mosque. In the subsequent Roman era, the Temple of Jupiter stood on the same site. In the Byzantine era, on the orders of Emperor Theodosius, the pagan temple was destroyed and the Church of St. Zechariah was built in its place, which was later renamed the Church of John the Baptist.
It is noteworthy that this church was a refuge not only for Christians, but also for Muslims. For 70 years, divine services were held in the church for two denominations at the same time. Therefore, when the Arabs conquered Damascus in 636, they did not touch this building. Moreover, the Muslims built a small brick extension to the temple on the south side.
Construction of a mosque
When the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid I ascended the throne, it was decided to buy the church from the Christians. Then it was demolished and built in its place.existing mosque. Caliph Al-Walid I decided to create the main place of worship for Muslims. He wanted the building to be distinguished by its special architectural beauty from all Christian buildings. The fact is that in Syria there were Christian churches that favorably differed in beauty and splendor. The caliph wanted the mosque he built to attract more attention, so it had to become even more beautiful. His ideas were realized by the best architects and craftsmen from the Maghreb, India, Rome and Persia. All the funds that were in the state treasury at that time were spent on the construction of the mosque. The Byzantine emperor, as well as some Muslim rulers, contributed to the construction of the mosque. They provided many mosaics and gems.
Building architecture
The Great Mosque of Damascus or the Umayyad Mosque is hidden from the hustle and bustle of the big city behind massive walls. On the left side of the entrance you can see a huge wooden wagon on wheels of impressive size. Rumor has it that this is a war chariot that has been preserved since ancient Rome. Although some believe that this wagon was a device for ramming during the assault on Damascus, left by Tamerlane.
Behind the gates of the mosque opens a spacious courtyard, lined with black and white marble slabs. The walls are made of onyx. From all sides, the courtyard is surrounded by a colonnade in the shape of a rectangle 125 meters long and 50 meters wide. You can enter the Umayyad Mosque from four sides through the gate. The prayer hall occupies one side, along the perimeter the courtyard is surrounded by painteda vaulted gallery, richly decorated with images of the Gardens of Eden and golden mosaics. In the very center of the courtyard there is a pool for ablution and a fountain.
Prophecy of the tower
The minarets, which have been preserved almost in their original form, are of particular value. In 1488, they were partially restored. The minaret, located in the southeast direction, is dedicated to the prophet Isu (Jesus) and bears his name. The minaret looks like a quadrangular tower that looks like a pencil. The Umayyad Mosque is especially famous for this minaret.
The prophecy of the tower says that before the Last Judgment in the second coming, Jesus Christ will descend on this minaret. When He enters the mosque, He will resurrect the prophet Yahya. Then both of them will go to Jerusalem to establish justice on Earth. That is why every day a new carpet is laid in the place where the Savior's foot supposedly steps. Opposite the minaret of Jesus is the minaret of the Bride or al-Aruq. On the western side is the al-Gharbiya minaret, which was built in the 15th century.
Interior decoration of the mosque
The facade of the courtyard of the mosque is lined with multi-colored marble. Some areas are decorated with mosaics and covered with gilding. For a long time, all this beauty was hidden by a dense layer of plaster, and only in 1927, thanks to skilled restorers, did it become available for contemplation.
The interior of the mosque is no less beautiful. The walls are inlaid with marble and the floors arecarpets. In total there are more than five thousand of them. The prayer hall is impressive. It is 136 meters long and 37 meters wide. All of it is covered with wooden flooring, Corinthian columns rise along its perimeter. The center of the hall is occupied by four painted columns supporting a huge dome. The paintings and mosaics on the columns are of particular value.
Tomb of Yahya
The south side of the prayer hall is occupied by four mihrabs. One of the main shrines of the mosque - the tomb of Hussein ibn Ali, who, according to legend, was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is located in the eastern side of the courtyard. The entrance to the relic is hidden behind small doors at the back of the courtyard. The tomb is located in the chapel of Hussein. According to legend, the prophet's grandson was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 681. The severed head of Hussein was presented to the ruler of Syria, who ordered to hang it in the very place where the head of John the Baptist once hung on the orders of King Herod. The legend says that after that the birds began to make sad trills and all the inhabitants wept tirelessly. Then the ruler repented and gave the order to enclose the head in a golden tomb and place it in a crypt, which later turned out to be in a mosque. Muslims claim that the tomb also contains the hair of the Prophet Muhammad, which he cut off when he last visited Mecca.
Tomb of John the Baptist
Also in the prayer hall is a tomb with the head of John the Baptist. When the foundation of the mosque was being laid, the builders discovered a grave. According to Syrian Christians,it was the burial place of John the Baptist. Caliph Ibn Walid gave the order to leave the grave in its original place. Thus she found herself in the very center of the prayer hall. The white marble tomb is surrounded by green glass niches through which you can put a note to the prophet Yahya or give him a gift. According to Archimandrite Alexander Elisov, only part of the head of John the Baptist is in the tomb. The rest of the relics are hidden in Athos, Amiens and in the temple of Pope Sylvester in Rome.
A small garden adjoins the northern part of the mosque, in which the tomb of Salah ad-Din is located.
Tests
Like any other shrine, the Umayyad Mosque has gone through many trials. Separate parts of it burned several times. The mosque also suffered from natural disasters. In 1176, 1200 and 1759 the strongest earthquakes hit the city. After the end of the Umayyad dynasty, Syria was repeatedly devastated by the Mongols, Seljuks and Ottomans. Despite all the difficulties, the only building that was quickly restored and delighted its parishioners was the Umayyad Mosque. Syria to this day is proud of the indestructible power of this unique cultural monument.
Rules of being in the mosque
The Umayyad Mosque (Damascus) is a hospitable place for people of any religion. Parishioners within its walls do not feel disadvantaged, on the contrary, they behave quite relaxedly. Here you can see those who perform namaz, those whoreads the scriptures. Here you can just sit and enjoy the holiness of this place, you can even lie down. Sometimes you can even meet sleeping people. The servants of the mosque treat everyone democratically, they don’t expel or condemn anyone. Children are very fond of rolling on the marble floor polished to a shine. Tourists for a small fee can visit the Umayyad Mosque (Syria) on any day except Friday. When entering a mosque, you should take off your shoes. It can be deposited with ministers for an additional fee or carried with you. For women, special clothing in the form of black capes is provided, which is also issued at the entrance. It should be borne in mind that in Syria it is almost always very hot, so the marble floor in the mosque is sometimes heated to the limit. It is almost impossible to walk barefoot on such a surface, so it is better to bring socks with you.
Muslims from all over the world seek to visit the Umayyad Mosque (Syria) at least once. This is the most crowded place in Damascus.
