THE DOME OF THE ROCK
Al-Haram Al-Sharif

Each of the main mosaic areas in the Dome of the Rock has its own very specific theme, and there are 6 such distinct series of mosaics. Examinations shows all six to be based on predominantly floral motifs. despite this floral dominance, as well as the occasional motifs somewhat reminiscent of floral decoration, the planning is so elaborate that in each given area an independent cycle is generated.

First group encountered upon entering the building is series 1, covering the outer face of the intermediate octagon and facing the 4 entrances. Tree of Life mosaic.

The first series of mosaics on the inner face of the intermediate octagon entirely covers the surface; unlike the outer face of the intermediate octagon around the 8 straight arcades, the inner face presents a continuous surface.

The original external mosaics have all but entirely disappeared, restored in the Middle Ages, today largely covered with glazed ceramic tiles, the restoration work of Suleiman the Magnificent.

The only clue Muslim historians give (to the imagery of the lost external mosaics) is that they resembled those within, and that they were many "trees" and "fruits".

Architect's Notes : Tree of life imagery again. Tree with 12 fruits, harvested 12 times a year.

One non-Muslim source, however, may be of more value: in 1483 Felix Fabri visited Jerusalem and though he was not allowed to enter the Haram, he could view the Dome from afar. The description he has left us is significant, for he mentions various elements of the exterior mosaics; "... trees, palm tree, olive trees and angels". This description tallied perfectly with the extant decoration within the building; the only puzzling detail is the mention is of "angels".

Architect's Note : Rose Ayalon fails to notice the constant theme of alternating 6 and 4 winged stylised "angels" (the Isaiah/Ezekiel cherubim/seraphim) in the interior frieze.

The explanation would seem to lie in the data provided by the Muslim sources- that the decoration on the exterior was very much like that within the monument, and thus something like the floral motifs with "winged" crowns as in the drum of the interior, must also have been depicted on the exterior.

To Fabri, accustomed to Western medieval iconography and looking from afar, the "winged" motif could only have been associated with angels. It should be noted that the decoration of all these marbles are identical, in both the the group on the 8 piers and that of the wall frieze. However, there is an exception in the latter group; one section of the wall frieze, along the south-western wall, (most inferior wall) bears a very different motif, based on rosettes within roundels. Except for this irregularity, which is limited to one section, a single motif similar to the stylised tree associated with the arches is used throughout. (Arches are reminiscent of the bow of G-D i.e. rainbow presence).