The Umayyad Mosque

The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, is one of the oldest and most magnificent mosques in the world, completed in 715 CE under Caliph al Walid I. Built on a site that has been a place of worship for over 3,000 years — from an Aramean temple to Hadad, to a Roman temple of Jupiter, to a Byzantine cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist — it embodies the layered history of Damascus. The mosque’s vast courtyard, marble arcades, and once glittering mosaics reflect the artistry of both Byzantine and early Islamic craftsmen. Inside stands the revered Shrine of John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya), honored in both Christian and Islamic traditions. Over the centuries, the mosque has survived fires, invasions, and restorations, remaining a living symbol of Damascus’s spiritual and cultural heritage, and a masterpiece of early Islamic architecture.