Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-08-20
Mosoue Of Omar.

In one of his recent letters from Jerusa-
lem Rev. DR.. Bellows gives the following
interesting description of the Mosque of
Omar. fr ,4na Iaa Ga
But must hurry on to some brief nc
count of the Mosque Of Omar, on the site
of the old Temple King Solomon, about
thousand years before the birth of Christ,
built the first temple on Mount Moriah,
which his father David had bought of
Araunah for six hundred shekels OF gold.
This temple lasted 423 years, and was des-
troyed by NebuchadneZzar The second
temple was built about 524 years b. c., on
the return from the captivity, but fell into
Edecay during the two centuries before
Christ, and was rebuilt by Herod, in forty
six years, in great magnihcencea Josephus
gives nsh vivid description of the Temple,
which must have surpassed in splendor
anything now existing in architecture. 1t
was erected in Christs time, and was
wholly destroyed by Titus about 20 A. ID.
With this prelude we may look ut the pre-
sent ground. In an enclosure parallel
ogram-of about thirty acres, two sides of
which are the walls of the city, starting at
the southeast corner we find. ourselves as
cending by one of several flights OF steps
on its four sides, q green terrace which Is
nearly level and considerable parts OF
which are the surface of the native rock of
Moriah.
The borders Of this park, which, like
everything Turkish, is much neglected,
are occupied by the Governors house and
by officers Of the government, by schools.
aud by blind asylum, all rather mean al d
irregular edifices. The park is too large
even for the great mosques which occupy
its CENTER and looks empty and desolate,
as if designed for other buildings. On
platform of marble, raised about six feet
and truly great foundation, and mi very
center, stands the octagonal Mosque Of
Omar covered with grand dome that need
not blush to show itself to Michael Angelo
or Brunelleschi, Upon its octagonal wall
rests q round drum, from which springs
dome of graceful and grand proportions,
crowned bya gilt crescent, the points OF
which meet. The dome is covered with
"copper" the drum with terTa-cotta of a
beautiful blue color, on which verses Of the
Koran are inscribed in arabesque. The
octagonal base is lined with white marble
for two yards high, and above this squares
of precious marbles are introduced in ele-
CANT designs. Four great doors open at
the four cardinal points. Windows filled
with very beautiful glass; in which are no
figures, but only architectural designs of q
small pattern, produce q very captivating
effect Opposite the eastern gate small
dome, supported by open columns, covers
place called the Dome of Judgment,
where David is tabled to have had his
tribunal and where, in the last day, the
balance Of Judgment will be suspended, q
Within tie grand Mosque, two concen-
tric octagonal enclosures surround the cen
tral part, which has fence of carved and
gilded wood about it, and within great
mass Of native rock, of thirty feet dame
ter (the summit Of Moriah), crude, rough
surface, in strange contrast with the ele-
gance and finish about it. The rock is,
however, the sacred object of the Mosque,
Musstilman tradition has it that from this
rock Mahomet assembled to Heaven. 1t is
fabled to be selfpoised; hung in space
without foundations, and to cover the
mouth of he'll They show on one side of
this rock print Of Christs foot-the Mos
lens honoring Jesus as one of their
prophets Gabriel and Enoch have also
their footmarks. The green standards Of
Mahometand of Omar are erected (folded)
within this circle. In little chamber out
of, the Mosque, very, srnall, one is shown
the chairs, of, David, Of Solomon, Abraham
hand st. George, and fiat stone which,
struck with the foot, gives out o dull reso-
nance, as if over, some great vault This