The Umayyad Mosque (Arabic: الجامع الأموي, romanized: al-Jāmiʿ al-Umawī), also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, located in the old city of Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world.

Jan 15, 2025 · Great Mosque of Damascus, the earliest surviving stone mosque, built between 705 and 715 CE by the Umayyad Caliph al-Walid I. The mosque stands on the site of a 1st-century Hellenic temple to Jupiter and of a later church of St. John the Baptist. Learn more about the Great Mosque in this article.

When Damascus became the capital of the Umayyad dynasty, the early 8th century caliph al-Walid envisioned a beautiful mosque at the heart of his new capital city, one that would rival any of the great religious buildings of the Christian world.

Both are known as “al-Jamiʿ al-Umawi al-Kabir” – “Great Umayyad Friday Mosque”. They were founded about 1300 years ago, when the Umayyad Caliphate (41–132 AH / 661–750 AD) was at the height of its power and the first major Arab-Muslim empire was ruled from Syria with Damascus as its capital.

May 27, 2024 · The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture and a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of Syria.

Aug 25, 2021 · Also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, the Umayyad Mosque in Syria is not only one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world, but is the fourth holiest site in Islam. The mosque was built on top of a basilica to St John …

Sep 7, 2022 · We explore the history behind the great mosque by following the journey of the renowned Andalusian traveller and poet, Abul Huayn ibn Jubayr. The courtyard of the mosque with its mosaics...

Feb 14, 2024 · Al-Walid enlisted 200 skilled Byzantine workers to create the mosaics covering the walls of the courtyard. The city depicted in the mosaics is lush, with towering shrubbery and a …

May 7, 2018 · Located in the heart of the Ancient City of Damascus, The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, is one of the oldest and holiest Islamic monuments in the world. The site of the Umayyad mosque today has been a …

The Great Mosque of Damascus (Umayyad Mosque) is the first monumental work of architecture in Islamic history; the building served as a central gathering point after Mecca to consolidate the Muslims in their faith and conquest to rule the surrounding territories under the …