Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ψ 15
7+(*5$1' 02648(
O
The Grand Mosque of Damascus was approached from the Souq through an ancient Roman
portal. Also known as the Umayyad Mosque, it is built on an old Christian cathedral and
is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world. It is a major destination for Shia pil-
grims and the fourth most holy Muslim site after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem's Dome of
the Rock.
This is a serious mosque. It contains a shrine which they claim contains the head of John the
Baptist, honoured as a prophet by Muslims and Christians alike. The head was supposedly
found during the excavations for the building of the mosque.
There are also important Shia landmarks within the mosque, including the head of Husayn
(the grandson of Muhammad), which at one time had been kept on display by the then Ca-
liph.
The tomb of Saladin stands in a garden adjoining the north wall of the mosque. The small
mausoleum contains two sarcophagi, one is the original made of wood and this contains the
body of Saladin. The other, of marble, was donated by Wilhelm II of Germany in the late
19
th
Century. This has never been used and stands empty.
At the height of his power, Saladin ruled over Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Hejaz, and Ye-
men. He led the Muslims against the Crusaders and eventually recaptured Palestine from the
Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. He is a notable figure in Kurdish, Arab, and Muslim cul-
ture and was a strict adherent of Sunni Islam.
Despite being the nemesis of the Crusaders, his chivalrous behaviour won the respect of
many of them, including Richard the Lionheart and, rather than becoming a hated figure in
Europe, he became a celebrated example of the principles of chivalry.
The spot where the Grand Mosque now stands has a bit of history. It was originally a temple
in the Aramaean era, a temple of Jupiter in Roman times and a Christian church dedicated
to John the Baptist in the Byzantine era.
