The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

The Dome of the Rock is a shrine located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. The structure has been refurbished many times since its initial completion in 691 CE at the order of Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik. The site’s significance stems from religious traditions regarding the rock, known as the Foundation Stone, at its heart.

The Dome of The Rock mosque, in the Temple Mount.Author=David Baum. Source: Wikipedia

 A.C. Cresswell in his book Origin of the plan of the Dome of the Rock notes that those who built the shrine used the measurements of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The diameter of the dome of the shrine is 20.20m and its height 20.48m, while the diameter of the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is 20.90m and its height 21.05m.

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The structure is basically octagonal. It comprises a wooden dome, approximately 20 m in diameter, which is mounted on an elevated drum consisting of a circle of 16 piers and columns. Surrounding this circle is an octagonal arcade of 24 piers and columns. During his travels in Jerusalem, American writer Mark Twain wrote that: Every where about the Mosque of Omar are portions of pillars, curiously wrought altars, and fragments of elegantly carved marble – precious remains of Solomon’s Temple. These have been dug from all depths in the soil and rubbish of Mount Moriah, and the Muslims have always shown a disposition to preserve them with the utmost care. The outer side walls are made of porcelain[6] and mirror the octagonal design. They each measure approximately 60 feet (18 m) wide and 36 feet (11 m) high. Both the dome and the exterior walls contain many windows. According to Islamic tradition, the rock is the spot from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Further, Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.  After Muhammad’s return, he called all who would believe him to join with him and be Muslim.  The Foundation Stone and its surroundings is the holiest site in Judaism. Just as Muslims pray towards the Kaaba at Mecca, the holiest site in Islam, Jews pray towards the raised platform on which the Dome of the Rock stands. Jews have traditionally regarded the location of the stone as the holiest spot on Earth, the site of the Holy of Holies during the Temple Period.

 The Jewish tradition does not have information regarding the exact location of the Holy of Holies, but the majority of scholars and rabbis believe it is somewhere in the area of the raised platform.

Strange Connection between the Dome of the Rock and the Sun-Cross Nazca Drawing

Nestled in the mysterious reaches of the Peruvian desert in the Palpa Mountains is one of the most precise geometric configurations known to man:  The Sun-Star, and its “satellite” – the Sun-Cross.  This famed Geoglyph has for centuries remained an obscure earthly reflection of ancient calibration – an astronomical wonderment depicting something far and beyond the immediate reach of human understanding … Note: In our previous two posts you will find more information about this Nazca drawing. 

The Sun-Cross and Sun_Star Nazca Drawing. Click to Enlarge

Here are some amazing  similarities between the Sun-Star and Cross of Peru (at Nazca) and the Dome of the Rock:

1.  Nazca drawing and the Rock of the Dome can be connected with line equal in length very nearly to the Diameter of the Earth (Diameter of the Earth is about  7,920 miles = 6,880.14 Nautical miles – very close to the distance between the Nazca drawing and the Temple  Mount in Jerusalem)

Note: The line going through centers of the squares and the satellite circle points towards the temple of Jupiter in Baalbek (relatively speaking not far from Jerusalem)

Line connecting Nazca Drawing and the Dome of the Rock is nearly equal Diameter of the Earth. Click to Enlarge

2. Top view of both layouts (The Temple and Nazca Drawing) is similar and in both cases smaller “satellite” circle is located to the East

 3. Blueprints of the Temple and Nazca drawing are very close in size and when superimposed they produce a perfectly match:

Superimposed blueprint images of the Dome of the Rock and Nazca Sun-Cross drawing. Another version of superimposed blueprint images of the Dome of the Rock and the Sun-Cross drawing at Nazca.

Conclusion

Although both blueprints have different sizes, looking at the superimposed blueprints of the Dome of the Rock and Nazca Sun-Cross drawing we can clearly see that the Dome of the Rock temple design is based on identical geometric principles as the design shown on the Sun-Cross Nazca drawing.

 

The Dome of Rock Related Links

• http://www.templemount.org/
• http://thehope.tripod.com/templerv.htm The Temple at Jerusalem – a new Revelation by John Michell
• On The Location of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem
• The Location of the Temple and the Holy of Holies on the Temple Mount
• The Noble Sanctuary A well-done site from a Muslim perspective that doesn’t deny the existence of the earlier Jewish temples.  They are developing an interactive CD-Rom about the site.
• Dome of the Rock (Personal Page, Martin Gray)  Authored by an anthropologist/photographer, this lengthy article is accompanied by some nice photos.
• Dome of the Rock, Israel (Sweet Briar College)  Features three photos of the interior of the building.  Text is limited and contains some biblical/historical errors.
• Dome of the Rock (Hebrew University)  Discusses the traditions and history associated with the site, as well as architectural details of the building.
• Dome of the Rock (Great Buildings Online)  Examines the Dome of the Rock from an architectural point of view.  Includes photos and a free downloadable 3D model.
• Revisioning the Dome of The Rock (thehope.org)  A different approach, but includes a nice photo gallery.
• Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem (Sacred Destinations) Very detailed and informative description of this Muslim shrine.  Also features a 45 captioned pictures in a photo tour.

PS Jerusalem Secrets in Plain Sight – Video

Don’t miss this website: http://www.secretsinplainsight.com/tag/michell/