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| Umayyad-Mosque-exterior |
Damascus, one of the cities that has been a long time, I wished to
visit, because it has its own charm and is one of the towns that the
Spanish Muslim Musafir 12th century AD, Ibn Jubayr described as
"Paradise in the Earth".
"If be paradise on earth, it is with out a doubt, Damascus, but if it
be in heaven, Damascus is its counterpart on earth," as Ibn Jubayr
described the city of Damascus.
Damascus the Syrian capital is often referred to as the oldest city in the world located in the middle between three continents, the continent of Asia, Europe and Africa, and flanked by four countries, namely Turkey in the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan diselatan and Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea in the west ,
Damascus is the capital of Syria, which is also called the city of city of jasmine. It is estimated that Damascus city has been around since 300 BC. Damascus became one of the important Islamic city when conquered by Walid Bind Khalid, in the year 635.
Damascus the Syrian capital is often referred to as the oldest city in the world located in the middle between three continents, the continent of Asia, Europe and Africa, and flanked by four countries, namely Turkey in the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan diselatan and Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea in the west ,
Damascus is the capital of Syria, which is also called the city of city of jasmine. It is estimated that Damascus city has been around since 300 BC. Damascus became one of the important Islamic city when conquered by Walid Bind Khalid, in the year 635.
The important part of this city is the corner of the old town which has an area of 128 hectares. In the old city there tersebutlah Umayyad Great Mosque. The location where the mosque was built originally is the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, which is constructed by Abd al-Malik in 706 and completed in 715. Uniquely in this mosque there is the tomb of St. John. The tomb was deliberately demolished during the construction of a mosque in his honor and symbolize peace between Muslims and Christians.
Ummayad Mosque is one of the mosque stood at the beginning of the rise of Islam. This mosque rectangular shape with a size of 157 x 100 meters. Setenga this building is an open space with a fountain in the middle. From the beauty and uniqueness of its shape, so that was the inspiration of various beautiful mosques in the world, such as Al-Azhar in Cairo, the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain, and Great Mosque Bursa in Turkey. Ummayad Mosque became the center of the old city of Damascus.
The same as the previous article which discusses Sana'a, Damascus city is also surrounded by city walls with seven gates.
Not far from the Ummayad Mosque, Azem Palace there is a building that was once the home of the Ottoman governor of Damascus at the time. Azem palace was built in 1750 and is currently used as the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions. The palace has two wings, namely the harem used for family and selamlik used for guests.
Which makes it look unique castle walls are mottled because it is composed of light-colored limestone and basalt dark. Models such as the wall is called ablaq and also the hallmark of Damascus architecture. The interior of the palace is decorated with beautiful floral paintings and colorful glass ornaments typical of Islamic art.
The beauty of the city of Damascus was, in 2008, Damascus was chosen as the center of Arab culture initiated by UNESCO. However, as a result of wars and rebellions have destroyed most of the mosques and the old town. So much visible bullet holes in the minarets and the mosque niches.
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