Umayyad Grand Mosque (Damascus, Syria). Grand Mosque in Damascus Mosque in 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 to Afghanistan. The lands that for centuries were in the orbit of the Greco-Roman, and then the Byzantine culture, in a matter of years became part of a completely different world. 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 the local culture from the conquered lands.

The Arab nomads had no idea of monumental architecture; Muslims prayed in the open air, and the first mosques were just fenced yards. However, faced with the urban culture of the Middle East, the caliphs realized its many charms and wished to confirm the victory of Islam by building impressive cult monuments. The best masters of Persia, regardless of their religion, were involved in the exciting process of creating new architecture.

A valuable landmark of the era was the Umayyad Mosque (Jam Bani Umai), built in the new capital of the empire, the city of Damascus (Syria) in 715. The place where the mosque was built was considered sacred for two thousand years. In the first millennium BC. e. here stood the Aramaic temple of the god Hadad; in the Roman era, a temple to Jupiter was erected in its place. Emperor Theodosius ordered him to destroy and build the Christian church of John the Baptist. When the Muslims captured Damascus, 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 in the Christian community, ordered to dismantle and build a mosque in its place.

In full accordance with the tastes of the first 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-tier colonnade, made in Byzantine forms, and in the direction of Mecca rises a huge three-aisled prayer hall, which differs little from the Byzantine basilica. Greek craftsmen covered the outer walls and galleries of the hall with wonderful mosaics, which in their style still do not resemble Arabic art in any way. Cypress trees, flowers and birds, landscapes of cities with domes and colonnades seem to have descended from an Orthodox icon, and the golden background of the mosaic, changing and shimmering under the southern sun, makes one recall the walls of the churches of Ravenna and Constantinople.

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

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on the map

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Muslims from all over the planet are trying to be at least once in their lives in the Umayyad mosque. It is one of the most majestic temple structures in Syria. For the architectural heritage of the state, the value of the building is considered truly colossal. In addition, its location is very symbolic. For the temple is in Damascus. It is the oldest metropolis in the world. Read the description of the Umayyad Mosque below.

oldest city

So, this monument of culture and architecture is located in the Syrian capital. Scientists believe that the city was founded about a thousand years ago. At the moment, it is rightfully the largest religious center in the entire Levant. And its highlight is just the Umayyad Mosque.

Recall that the Levant is all the states of the eastern Mediterranean. Among them are Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, etc.

By the way, at one time the Apostle Paul visited the city of Damascus. After that, a new religious trend arose in the capital, which became known as Christianity. By the way, the city is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible.

Ancient history

In ancient times, the Syrian capital was conquered by the king of the Israeli state, David. And in 333 BC. e. Alexander the Great invaded this territory and captured the city. A few centuries later, the city of Damascus recognized the authority of Rome.

On the site where the mosque now stands, there was a temple of Hadad. In this territory, the ancient Arameans held their respective worship services. By the way, a basalt stele survived from that building.

When the power of the Roman governors spread to the territory of Damascus, the temple was destroyed. And in its place was built the sanctuary of Jupiter. Later it became known as the Church of John the Baptist.

Note that in those days, for seven decades, the church became a refuge for both Christians and Muslims. Services were held simultaneously for these denominations. At the same time, having conquered Damascus in 636, the Arabs not only did not destroy the building, but also erected a small extension of bricks near the temple.

Destruction of a Roman basilica

Meanwhile, the city began to turn into a real capital of a large caliphate. And the number of Muslims has increased greatly. And the huge Roman temple was no longer able to accommodate everyone. Accordingly, adherents of Christianity turned out to be superfluous.

By this period, the caliphs understood that it was high time to build their own sanctuary in the city, as in El-Kuf, Mecca, Basra, Medina. This building should have been better than Christian churches. It would have countered them with beauty of decoration and architecture. But before the construction began, the church was first bought from the Christians, and then it was completely destroyed.

By the way, subsequently all Christian religious buildings were destroyed. Some of them turned into mosques. At the moment, only the church of St. Mary has been preserved. It is now considered the main cathedral of the Patriarch of Antioch.

Mosque construction

After destroying the Roman basilica, the Arab architects proceeded to the construction of the mosque in the same place. Construction work lasted one decade. Twelve thousand workers were involved in them.

The Damascus authorities spent all the financial resources that were then in the Syrian treasury for the construction.

Also, well-known architects from Persia, India and the Maghreb were involved in the process of work.

In addition, a number of rulers of the Levant decided to contribute to the construction of the structure, providing for this a colossal amount of precious stones.

Building architecture

As a result, the Umayyad Mosque (Syria) really turned out to be majestic and very beautiful. It was separated from the city by thick walls.

You can enter the building from four sides through the gate. By the way, at the left entrance there is a large wooden wagon on huge wheels. Many believe that this structure is a ramming device. According to them, the great Tamerlane left him when he stormed Damascus. Others believe that this wagon is an ancient Roman war chariot.

Behind the gate is the courtyard, which is lined with black and white marble slabs. Its length is 125 m, and its width is 50 m. It is decorated with images of paradise gardens and mosaics. By the way, this mosaic is considered to be the best decoration of the mosque. They say that to make it, they invited Constantinople masters. True, for a long time the mosaic was hidden under a large layer of plaster. And only in 1927 the restorers were able to restore its former beauty.

In the center of the courtyard there is a fountain and a pool for ablution. As for the floor of the prayer hall, it is covered with carpets. There are almost 5 thousand of them. Believers donated them to the mosque.

Minarets

Three minarets rise above the temple. They have been preserved almost in their original form. But, unfortunately, not all.

The oldest minaret is located in the northern part of the wall that surrounds the temple. The name of the building is Al-Arouk Minaret. Alas, how it looked after construction, it is difficult to say. And after the next restoration work, the top of the building was made exclusively in a modern style.

The minaret, which is located in the western part of the mosque, was named Al-Gharbiya. It was built in the fifteenth century and was crowned with a rather sharp spire.

Well, the southeastern minaret bears the name of Isu, or Jesus. According to legend, when the Last Judgment comes, Christ will descend this minaret and end up in the mosque. After that, he must resurrect a prophet named Yahya. Then they will go to Jerusalem, where they will establish true justice throughout the Earth. By the way, that's why every day a brand new carpet is always laid on the place where Jesus' foot has set foot.

Chapel of Hussein

The huge building of the mosque has its own secrets. So, in the depths of the courtyard, among the columns of the gallery, there is a small door that leads to the so-called. Hussein's chapel. She, perhaps, is one of the main shrines of the temple. It is in this building, in a capsule, that Hussein's head is kept. He was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and is considered a martyr. He was killed in one of the battles back in 681, and his head was cut off. After that, she was taken to Damascus. By order of the Syrian ruler, the head was hung on the gates of the city. At one time, it was at this place that the legendary King Herod put the head of John the Baptist. But we will return to this a little later.

When Hussein died, the birds, according to legend, began to emit only sad trills. And all the townspeople were crying. The ruler of Syria repented and ordered to put his head in a tomb of gold. Then she was placed in a crypt, and a little later - in a mosque.

In addition, adherents of Islam believe that the hair of the Prophet Muhammad is also in the chapel. Allegedly, he cut them off when he was in Mecca. Note that the prophet was then in the city for the last time.

Head of John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya)

In the center of the mosque there is also a capsule with the head of John the Baptist. In Rus' he is called John the Baptist, in the Muslim world he is called Yahya.

This shrine was found quite by accident. When construction work on the construction of the mosque had just begun, Syrian architects were laying the foundation. It was then that the grave was found. Believers claim that it was the burial place of John the Baptist. Be that as it may, the ruler ordered that the grave be preserved. As a result, she remained in the same place where she was later found. It is located in the very center of the courtyard.

The tomb is made of white marble. It is surrounded by glass niches. Through them, believers can put a photo or memorial note inside. In addition, there you can give money to this saint as a gift.

To be honest, the story with the head has not been finally clarified so far. It is said that only part of his relics lies in the tomb of the prophet Yahya. Other parts of the head are found in Amiens, Athos and Rome.

Rules for visiting the temple

The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is considered a very hospitable place. And for people of absolutely any religion. Guests and believers, as a rule, always behave quite relaxed. They can pray, sit, read, lie down and even sleep. And small children love to ride on the marble slabs of the yard. At the same time, the ministers of the temple always treat everyone calmly and democratically. They never condemn anyone, let alone expel anyone.

Guests of Damascus visit the Umayyad Mosque for a nominal fee. True, tourists are not allowed on Friday. When entering the temple, you must take off your shoes. It can be given to ministers for safekeeping. True, for an additional fee. Otherwise, you should wear shoes with you. Representatives of the weaker sex are given special black capes.

An important detail: the climate in Syria is very hot. And so the marble floor in the great mosque of Damascus is often heated literally to the limit. Accordingly, it is simply unrealistic to move on such a surface. In a word, tourists in such a situation take socks with them.

Tests

The Umayyad Mosque, whose relics and shrines we examined, also went through a series of serious trials. So, some parts of the temple repeatedly burned. In addition, the building was also damaged by natural disasters. Terrible earthquakes hit the temple three times. Also, the Mongols, Ottomans and Seljuks invaded the territory of Damascus. After such raids, the temple seemed to have been completely destroyed. But despite this, the mosque was quickly restored. And the capital of Syria is still proud of this unique cultural monument.

We stumbled upon this mosque by chance while walking around old Damascus. The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus or in another way the Grand Mosque in Damascus is one of the most revered and oldest in the world. From here, sermons are broadcast on television throughout Syria. The mosque can be visited by tourists regardless of religion, which we actually took advantage of.

What is the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

The mosque is huge. It is surrounded by high walls, which can be reached through one of the four gates. At the entrance, you must definitely take off your shoes, which you can leave here, as we did, or take it with you. There is a small fee for non-Muslims to enter, but as far as I remember, we got through without paying money, although I could be wrong.

The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Courtyard. Video

After passing through one of the gates, you will enter the courtyard, which is paved with smooth slabs. In the heat, they warm up, and it’s hot to walk barefoot on them, but in January, when we visited this place, it was, on the contrary, very cold to walk on these plates even in socks. In the courtyard there is a fountain for ablution, which is carried out before prayer.

Near the wall there is an impressive cart: according to some sources, this is a ramming device that remained after the assault on Damascus by Tamerlane, according to others, this is a war chariot from the times of Ancient Rome. By the way, in the Roman era, on the site of this mosque, there was a temple of Jupiter, and in the Byzantine era, a Christian church.

The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Prayer hall. Video

From the courtyard you find yourself in a prayer hall of impressive size. The floor is covered with patterned carpets, the pattern of which marks the places for prayer.

The liberated behavior of people surprises and disposes: parishioners sit or even lie on the floor, read, take pictures, and communicate. Near the walls there are bookcases with books, apparently, they can be taken and read.

One of the three minarets of the mosque is named after Jesus. Muslims revere Jesus as a prophet, but do not accept that He is the Son of God. According to the prophecy, Isa (this is how Muslims call Jesus) will descend this minaret to the ground before the Last Judgment. They are waiting for Jesus, and every day the imam changes the carpet in front of the minaret, His foot must set foot on this carpet.
In the center of the prayer hall is the grave of another well-known Christian prophet - John the Baptist. Rather, the head of the Baptist is buried here. We found it when this mosque was being built on the site of a Christian temple. Muslims, just like Christians, revere John the Baptist, calling him Yahya. The matter with this relic is unclear to this day: there are several heads of the prophet and their fragments. They are in France, and in Italy, and in Nagorno-Karabakh, and in Greece on Athos. Researchers count as many as twelve.
The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus is the burial place of the ashes of Salah ad-Din, a famous talented commander and Muslim leader of the 12th century.

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 approximately in the XI century BC and before 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 temples of the gods of others ...

Jamia al Umayi, 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 a few fragments spared by time and people - for example, the six-column Arc de Triomphe, sixteen meters high. It is assumed 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 ruins of its southern wall, the Byzantines built an Orthodox cathedral in the name of John the Baptist. In this cathedral, a Christian shrine was sacredly kept - the head of John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, who was killed by order of King Herod. The Byzantines were replaced by the Arabs. In 705, the Umayyad caliph Walid bin Abd el-Malik desired to decorate his capital Damascus with a magnificent monument worthy of the splendor of the ruling dynasty. He was supposed to overshadow all other monumental buildings in the Arab world. The Umayyad Mosque became the stronghold and shrine of Islam, the first religious building that reflected the religious ideas 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 for the construction of the mosque. Of all the then centers of world culture - Athens, Rome, Constantinople, the countries of the Arab East - the best artists, architects, 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, after thirteen centuries, having gone through dozens of wars, fires, looting and many years of desolation, the mosque amazes with its grandeur and magnificence of forms. One can imagine what it was like in the first years of its history! At that time, even the walls of the inner courtyard of the mosque were covered with mosaics.

Powerful blind walls separate the mosque from the noisy city. Four gates lead to the courtyard of the mosque. 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. On three sides, the courtyard is surrounded by a vaulted gallery, 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 al-Khazneh", the treasury of the caliphs. Once upon a time, the treasury of the Umayyad dynasty was kept here. All eight faces of the treasury are covered with floral ornaments.

At the opposite end of the courtyard is a stone pavilion with a sundial. Its dome also rests on eight columns, and none of the columns is similar to the other - probably, at one time they were taken from different buildings. 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 is the building of the prayer hall. Once its courtyard facade was an open arcade, now windows and arched spans cover wooden walls and colored stained-glass windows.

The prayer hall is huge. It is 136 meters long and 37 meters wide. 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 gigantic dome. On the south side there are four mihrabs - niches in the wall of the mosque, indicating the direction to Mecca. Of the four mihrabs, the largest mihrab, closest to the pulpit, stands out for its finest mother-of-pearl and colored marble decoration. The mihrab is an indispensable detail of any mosque, with the exception of one - the Haram Beit-Ullah mosque over the Kaaba stone in Mecca. It is to her that the mihrabs of all the mosques of the world are turned.

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

In the eastern part of the hall there is a marble pavilion crowned 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 an Orthodox Byzantine church 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 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 full-flowing river.

The hall of the mosque is illuminated by heavy European-type 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 north wall were decorated with bright colorful stained-glass windows.

Above the mosque, three minarets rush 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-Aruk - the Minaret of the Bride and was built in the Umayyad era. Time has not fully preserved its original appearance. The minaret has been repeatedly restored, and its upper part is made in a modern style. The western minaret, Al-Gharbiya, was built in the 15th century. Its rectangular tower, crowned with a sharp spire, rises above the western entrance to the courtyard of the mosque.

The minaret, standing in the southeast corner, bears the name of ... Jesus Christ! Nonsense? Not at all. Islam, as you 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 last fight with the Antichrist on the eve of the Last Judgment, and then from here, from the top of the minaret, he will judge the world ...

The Umayyad Mosque is available to tourists of any religion for a small fee. Only women are given black capes to cover their faces, and at the entrance to the mosque, according to tradition, you must remove your shoes. But is it possible, having been in Damascus, not to visit the legend-covered Jamie al Umayi - the Umayyad mosque, the pearl of the Middle East?

Damascus. Old City: Citadel, Umayyad Mosque.

Citadel. Damascus. Syria.

The construction of the citadel began in 1076. At that time, the citadel was the residence of the ruler, where his chambers, barracks, guards, warehouses, a mint, a prison, a mosque and family graves were located. Only twice a year, on great religious holidays, did the ruler leave 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. Fortified and rebuilt the citadel for 12 years. 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 again suffered greatly.
Since then, it has not been restored. Until 1985 there was a prison here. In recent years, restoration work and excavations have been carried out here.
Near the citadel and the entrance to the covered market is located monument to Saladin- the legendary sultan who started a victorious war with the crusaders.
Near the citadel and the monument is the entrance to the Old City and the famous Hamidiya market (Souq al Hamidiya).

Hamidiya Market. Morning.

Hamidiya Market.

Umayyad Grand Mosque (Damascus, Syria)

Once there was the city gate Bab al-Nasr (Victory Gate), but in 1864 it was dismantled. The market is named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Hamid II, under whom in 1885 the market was covered with an iron roof. 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 creams in Syria, a cafe-shop was opened in Hamidiya in 1885. Thick and elastic ice cream is made from the powder of dried orchid tubers and resins of the mastic tree, sprinkled with pistachios on top. The ice cream is so thick that the ice cream workers are constantly kneading the ice cream, beating the 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, erected in the III century.

Temple of Jupiter. Damascus. Syria.

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

The outer walls of the mezhene were built up with houses, which had already begun to be demolished by the Ottoman authorities. However, when the Turks left, the owners of the houses returned and rebuilt. In the 80s. the mosque was again cleared of houses and arranged a small square.

On 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 erected a temple to Jupiter of Damascus, in the 4th century. the Byzantine emperor Theodosius built the basilica of St. Zacharias, in 635 the temple was divided into two parts - Christian and Muslim.
In 708 Caliph Walid, wishing to build in Damascus a mosque worthy of his dynasty was confiscated by St. John's Cathedral, in which Muslims and Christians prayed side by side for 70 years - one in the western half, the other 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, to amaze with the luxury and beauty of the decoration.

Mosque of the Umayyads. Damascus. Syria.

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 erected in 1347 on the ruins of the tower of the temple of Jupiter. According to legend, Jesus Christ will descend to earth on the eve of the Last Judgment along this minaret. The southwestern minaret of Muhammad was also built on the site of an ancient tower before the 12th century.
The mosque suffered 11 times from major fires, 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 also buy a ticket (50 SP), women get dark capes (bare shoulders, arms and head are not allowed). When entering the mosque, both women and men must take off their shoes.

An elegant building on eight columns - Qubbat al-Khazna- a treasury that cannot be accessed directly from the ground (787). Once, in one of the treasuries, the state money stored there “under the protection of Allah” was stolen, since then they began to build treasuries without entering from the ground.

Qubbat al-Khazna. Damascus. Syria.

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

Kubbat an-Nofara. Damascus. Syria.

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

Mosque of the Umayyads. Damascus. Syria.

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 simply began to designate the qibla - the direction to Mecca, where the faces of the worshipers should be turned.

Umayyad Mosque. Mihrab. Damascus. Syria.

Mosque of the Umayyads. Damascus. Syria.

The Umayyads entered the mosques minbars- chairs 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 is cancer of St. John the Baptist.

Mosque of the Umayyads. Cancer of St. John the Baptist.

Here rests the head of a saint, which, according to legend, was found in 705 in one of the underground crypts during the reconstruction of the basilica into a mosque. According to the legend, the caliph Walid wanted to remove this shrine and even began to dig out the head himself, but, touching 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.

Mosque of the Umayyads. Damascus. Syria.

Nearby are a Byzantine well and a font.
In the portico of the eastern wall there is a sanctuary where Hussein's head- the son of the fourth "righteous caliph" Ali. It is a place of pilgrimage for Shiites. Inside the room there are two urns; in one - the head of Hussein, who was killed by Umayyad soldiers in 680 at the Battle of Karbala (Iraq), in the second - a lock of the Prophet's hair.

Mosque of the Umayyads. Damascus. Syria.

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

Open 9.00-16.00 seven days a week

Mausoleum of Salah ad-Din. Damascus. Syria.

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 Shirkuh, sons of Shadi of Ajdanakan, were commanders in the army of Zengi.
In 1139, Ayyub received Baalbek from Zengi, and in 1146, after his death, he supported the second son of Zengi, the future unifier of Syria, Nur ad-Din, and helped him conquer Aleppo. Thus, Saladin was brought up at the Aleppo court, he was educated 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 the Christians (1187-1192).
The conquest of Egypt was necessary for Nur ad-Din. Egypt threatened his power from the south and was the stronghold of the heretic caliphs.
In 1164, Nur ad-Din decides to send a corps to Egypt to help the Fatimid state repel the invasion of the crusaders. The corps was headed by Shirkuh, with whom his brother Ayyub and his son Salah ad-Din went. After several years of fighting, Shirkuh became vizier under the Fatimid caliph, but in 1169 he died suddenly. He was succeeded by Saladin.
After the death of the Fatimid caliph Adid in 1171 and Nur ad-Din in 1174, power over Egypt and Syria was concentrated in the hands of Salah ad-Din.
Saladin founded his Ayyubid dynasty. He restored the Sunni faith in Egypt in 1171. And in 1174 he entered Damascus, took Hams and Hama, in 1175 he captured Baalbek and the cities surrounding Aleppo.
Saladin owed his success, first of all, 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 sun, the knights roasted in their heavy armor. When they reached the limit, Salah ad-Din managed to separate the crusader cavalry from the infantry and defeated it. Few of the crusaders managed to survive or escape capture. Even the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Guido Lusignan, was captured, but was released with honors under an oath never again to raise a sword against the Muslims (which he subsequently violated). Also captured was the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Raynald of Chatillon, whom Saladin personally executed.
After the battle of Hittin, Salah ad-Din's victories followed one after another, including Saladin capturing Jerusalem and carrying out the ritual of its purification, while showing generosity to the 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. The campaign was also attended by the King of France Philip II Augustus and the German Emperor Frederick I. Richard the Lionheart recaptured part of the cities and fortresses from Saladin. Among them was Acre when the Muslim garrison capitulated without Saladin's permission. Richard I put to death 2,000 hostages. Salah ad-Din was upset by the severity of the enemy, he himself in such cases gave captives into slavery.
But this did not prevent him from arranging the marriage of his younger brother and sister Richard I, after which in November 1192 a peace was concluded, under the terms of which the interior of Syria was recognized as Muslim with the right of unhindered passage of 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 from a 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.

Continuation: Old City: Zahiriya Madrasah, Seyid Rukiya Mosque, Nuria Madrasah, Azem Palace, Spice Market.

1. Damascus is the oldest capital in the world. City `s history.
2. Old city: citadel, Hamidiya market, Umayyad mosque.
3. Old city: Zahiriya madrasah, Seyid Rukiya mosque, Nuria madrasah, Azem palace, spice market.
4. Old Town: Direct street, Roman arch, Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary, Bab Sharki, St. Paul's Chapel, St. Ananias' house, Christian quarter.
5. Marji Square, slopes of Kasyun.

Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world. It originated around the 11th century BC. e. Millennia passed, the peoples inhabiting Damascus were replaced, and the temples of some gods were replaced by temples of the gods of others ...

The Byzantines were replaced by the Arabs. In 705, the Umayyad caliph Walid bin Abd el-Malik desired to decorate his capital Damascus with a magnificent monument worthy of the splendor of the ruling dynasty. He was supposed to overshadow all other monumental buildings in the Arab world. The Umayyad Mosque became the stronghold and shrine of Islam, the first religious building that reflected the religious ideas of Muslims in architectural form.

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

Umayyad Mosque

More than twelve thousand workers worked on the construction of the mosque for ten years. Mother-of-pearl, pearls, and gold were widely used for interior decoration. 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 Umayyad Mosque amazes with its grandeur and magnificence of forms. You can imagine what it was like in the first years of its history! At that time, even the walls of the inner courtyard of the mosque were covered with mosaics.

Powerful blind walls separate the mosque from the noisy city. Four gates lead to the courtyard of the temple. Their portals are lined with ceramic tiles and mosaics from the Umayyad era. The courtyard is paved with square stone slabs and has the shape of a rectangle 125 m long and 50 m wide. A vaulted gallery surrounds the courtyard on three sides, and a prayer hall is located on the fourth side. In one of the corners there is a stone octagonal pavilion with a dome, raised on eight tall columns with magnificent capitals. This is "Kubbat al-Khazneh", the treasury of the caliphs. According to legend, the treasury of the Umayyads was kept here. All eight faces of the treasury are covered with floral ornaments.

At the opposite end of the courtyard is a stone pavilion with a sundial. Its dome also rests on eight columns, and none of the columns is different from the other - probably, at one time they were taken from different buildings. 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 is the building of the prayer hall. Once its facade was an open arcade, now windows and arched spans cover wooden walls and colored stained-glass windows.

The prayer hall is huge. Its length is 136 m, and its width is 37 m. 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 gigantic dome. On the south side are four mihrabs, indicating the direction of Mecca. The large mihrab, closest to the pulpit, stands out for its finest mother-of-pearl and colored marble decoration.

A steep staircase behind carved high doors leads to a high pulpit (minbar) made of white marble. From here, sermons are broadcast on the radio throughout the country. In the eastern part of the hall there is a marble pavilion crowned with a dome, decorated with two green banners of Islam. Through its glass, you can see a large tombstone. The head of John the Baptist is buried here (Muslims call him the prophet Yahya), discovered during restoration work in one of the crypts of the Byzantine temple that stood on this site. Christianity and Islam are so closely intertwined in the Middle East!

The best decoration of the Umayyad Mosque is 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 full-flowing river.

Above the mosque, three minarets rush 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-Aruk - the Minaret of the Bride and was built in the era of the Umayyads. Time has not preserved its original appearance. The minaret has been repeatedly restored, and its upper part is made in a modern style. The western minaret, Al-Gharbiya, was built in the 15th century. Its rectangular tower, crowned with a sharp spire, rises above the western entrance to the courtyard of the mosque.

The minaret, standing in the southeast corner, bears the name of ... Jesus Christ! Nonsense? Not at all. Islam, as you know, does not reject Christ, but rejects his Divine origin and considers him only a prophet. The Arabs call him "Issa ben Mariam" - "Jesus, the 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 last fight with the Antichrist on the eve of the Last Judgment, and then from here, from the top of the minaret, he will judge the world ...

The Umayyad Mosque is available to tourists of any religion for a small fee. Only women are given black capes to cover their faces, and at the entrance to the mosque, according to tradition, you must remove your shoes. But is it possible, having been in Damascus, not to visit the legendary Jamie al Umayi, the Umayyad mosque, the pearl of the Middle East, covered in legends?

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