Final answer:
The Dome of the Rock is an iconic, magnificently decorated building from the 7th century, with great significance to Islam and other monotheistic religions, located in Jerusalem and featuring a gold-covered dome with blue tiles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Dome of the Rock is an architectural masterpiece with considerable religious and historical significance. It is all of the above: a building of extraordinary beauty, consisting of stone masonry and wooden roof decorated with glazed ceramic tile, mosaics, and a gilded dome made of aluminum and bronze, dazzling observers with its brilliance.
Constructed in 691 CE by the order of Caliph Abd al-Malik, this early Islamic shrine is one of the most iconic images of the Middle East, prominently located on the Haram al-Sharif in old Jerusalem.
Not just a mosque, it is built around a sacred rock revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its unique hexagonal shape takes inspiration from Byzantine architecture and it features mosaics and marble which may have been crafted by Byzantine artisans themselves.
The Dome of the Rock is far more than a simple piece of architecture; it embodies a glorious mystery and serves as a testament to Islamic faith. The dome, which measures nearly twenty meters in diameter and rises to a height of fifty-four meters, is supported by twenty-four columns and piers.
Over time, this structure has seen numerous renovations and restorations, such as those by the Ottoman sultan, who rejuvenated the exterior with blue mosaics and colorful tiles, including Koranic inscriptions.