It was apparently constructed during the reign of the Umayyad caliph El-Walid I (705-715 CE) and was destroyed in the earthquake of 749 CE. It was used as the seat of caliphate during the caliph's visits to the city of Jerusalem.
This palace measures 96 x 84 m. and is surrounded by a three meter-thick protective wall, constructed of large, trimmed stones, many in secondary use from the collapsed Herodian walls of the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount). Two main gates, one facing east and one facing west, gave access to the palace. A bridge was built from the roof of this palace to the Haram, providing direct access to the Al-Aksa mosque.
circa 10 BCE
A broad, stone-paved courtyard in the center of the building was surrounded by rows of columns supporting the roofing of the porticoes. Many of the columns came from Byzantine churches, as evidenced by traces of engraved crosses on them. The rooms around the central courtyard were paved with small stone slabs and mosaic. Plaster, decorated with geometric designs and floral motifs, covered the exceptionally thick walls.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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