Damascus Mosque: A Masterpiece of Islamic Architecture
The Great Mosque of Damascus: A Historical Overview
In 638, Damascus was conquered by Islam. In 660, Caliph Muawiyah, the first Umayyad, moved the capital of the Muslim world from Medina to Damascus. In 706, Caliph al-Walid ordered the construction of a lavish mosque in Damascus, considered a masterpiece of architecture and regarded as the eighth wonder of the world.
From Roman Temple to Christian Basilica
In the first century AD, a Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter stood in Damascus. In the fourth century, during the time of Theodosius, the temple was demolished, and a Christian basilica dedicated to St. John the Baptist was built on its site, likely reusing materials from the temple. After the Islamic conquest of Damascus, Islamic and Christian worship initially shared the space. Later, al-Walid ordered the demolition of the basilica to construct a new mosque, again reusing materials from the old Roman structure.
Architectural Structure and Design
The Damascus Mosque significantly influenced later Islamic religious buildings, such as those in Córdoba, Amr, and Kairouan. It features a large prayer hall measuring 136 meters wide and 38 meters deep, accessed through a patio of 120 meters wide and 50 meters deep. The prayer room has a central body leading to the mihrab, with three parallel vessels on each side extending to the qibla wall. In the geometric center, facing the mihrab, stands the Dome of the Eagle, originally built of wood, similar to al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. It is circular and rests on an octagonal structure supported by four angles.
Columns, Arches, and Influences
The prayer hall rests on massive columns topped with Corinthian capitals, connected by large arches. Above, a second tier of smaller columns supports arches beneath the building’s roofs. These columns may originate from the ancient Temple of Jupiter. The two-tiered arcades resemble a Roman aqueduct supported by strong columns.
Byzantine Influences and Layout
The Damascus Mosque absorbed Byzantine architectural influences. Ibn Battuta noted that al-Walid requested assistance from the Byzantine Emperor, receiving 12,000 artisans for the construction. The mosque’s floor plan is oblong, with the width exceeding the depth, a characteristic of early Islamic mosques. This design allows worshippers to pray side-by-side, facing the qibla. This contrasts with Christian churches, where the faithful pray in a hierarchical order behind one another towards the altar.
The Courtyard and its Mosaics
The large patio leading to the prayer hall features a portico with alternating columns and pillars, except on the north side, where pillars replaced the columns. The portico has two levels, with smaller arches on the upper level. The courtyard showcases spacious tiles with beautiful images of forests, rivers, and lodges, depicting dreamlike scenes of Paradise for believers.