ABSTRACT
The Dome of the Rock, poised over the landscape of Jerusalem, is the earliest monument of Islam still standing. Built in 692, only six decades after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, it soon became a revered sacred site for Muslims. As the years went by, layer after layer of supernatural beliefs and traditions accrued around it. Because of its spiritual aura, the monument has been the object of continuous attention, upkeep and renovations throughout the centuries. The Dome of the Rock thus stands as a palimpsest of the history of Jerusalem since the rise of Islam. Yet despite its iconic status and the numerous historical studies devoted to it, its original meaning and purpose remain elusive.
