Dome of the Rock

 

The base of the dome, Dome of the Rock, 687, Jerusalem 

In the 7th century C.E., the Dome of the Rock was built in Jerusalem. This dome was the first and oldest Islamic monument, used as a shrine even to this day. The artwork on the walls is aniconic, specific to avoid idolatry, with decorations of flowers, plants, swirls, instead of people or animals. Within the artwork of the Dome, there are noted influences from Sassanian, Coptic, and Byzantine art styles. This is important to note because it shows how underdeveloped the style of Islamic art was, this was during a time period where Islamic art was just beginning to emerge. While the original purpose of the dome is debated constantly, it is believed to have been the site where the Islamic prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven, while in Jewish traditions, this site is believed to be the location where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  While this building is not a mosque, it is a shrine and is continuously used for public worship just like how it was in the 7th century. 

Despite its age, it has been modernized well through the times, which brings us to the point of why it remains important today. Unlike other monuments and ancient places of worship, the Dome of the Rock is not a tourist attraction (despite tourists coming to visit it). It is used actively by worshippers and shows the continuation of religious practices of people of the Islamic faith. It is a part of cultural and religious growth for the area of Jerusalem. Societies don't randomly create monuments or large structured places of worship without a reason, these places are usually created because the society surrounding it believes that it is something to be honored and remembered in their history, which provides insight further down the road of the culture's existence. If you can comprehend the meaning of the monument or religious structure, you can begin to piece together the mindset and cultural normalities for the people who lived so many years ago. Not only do they represent history, but they also link the continuers of a certain culture to their past.

Sources: 

Glenna Barlow, "Arts of the Islamic world: The early period," in Smarthistory, August 8, 2015, accessed 

            September 25, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/arts-of-the-islamic-world-the-early-period/.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Dome of the Rock.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., August 5, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dome-of-the-Rock.