THE MOSQUE OF OMAR, ON THE ANCIENT SITE OF 
THE TEMPLE. 
This fine monument of the style of building under the Caliphate stands on Mount Moriah. 
It is recorded by the Arab historian, Seid Eben Batrik, that when the Caliph Omar took 
Jerusalem, the conqueror inquired of the Patriarch Sophronius, which would be the most 
fitting site for a mosque. The patriarch, by a choice which it is now difficult to under¬ 
stand, led him to the ruins of the Temple. Successive caliphs enlarged and adorned the 
mosque. At the capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders it was consecrated as a Christian 
Church, but on falling into the hands of Saladin, it became a mosque again. The lively 
narrative of Dr. Richardson, who had contrived to evade Mahometan vigilance, gives us 
the best notice of the structure. Enveloped in a black robe to avoid observation, and 
attended by an interpreter, he ascended the southern hope of Mount Moriah, and entered 
the Haram Schereef, (or “noble Retirement for Devotion,”) an inclosure of 1489 feet by 
995, in the centre of which stands the Sakhara, (or “ Shut Up,”) the Mosque of Omar. 
“ After viewing the building, we then,” the narrative proceeds, “ hied out of the Gate 
of Paradise (Bab-el-Jenne), passed by the c Judgment-Seat of Solomon,’ and descended 
into the inclosure. Here we put on our shoes, and walked through the trees, to a house 
adjoining the wall of the inclosure, in which is said to be the throne of Solomon. From 
this we ascended by a stair to the top of the wall, and sat upon the stone on which Mahomet 
is to sit at the day of judgment, to judge the re-embodied spirits assembled beneath him in 
the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Descending from this seat of tremendous anticipation, we 
walked along the front of El Aksa, the other mosque, which occupies the side of the 
inclosure.” 
A visit in daylight, in which he was accompanied by some Turks of rank, enabled 
him to enjoy a still more accurate view. The ground is verdurous, and scattered over 
with orange, olive, cypress, and other trees. 
“ In the sacred retirement of this spot, the followers of the Prophet delight to saunter 
or repose, and arrayed in the gorgeous costume of the East, add much to the beauty and 
interest of the scene, which they seem unwilling to quit either in going to, or returning 
from, the place of prayer. Round the edge of the Stoa-Sakhara, or platform of the mosque, 
are many small houses, for private prayer, and other purposes connected with the principal 
building; but the Sakhara itself is the chief ornament of the whole. It is a regular octagon 
of about sixty feet a side. It is entered by four gates, and the walls are faced to a certain 
height with marble; the sides are panelled, and the upper story of this elegant building is 
faced with small tiles eight or nine inches square, and painted, white, yellow, green, and 
blue. On each side there are seven well-proportioned windows, except where the front 
interferes. The whole is extremely light and beautiful, and from the mixture of the soft 
colours above, and the blue and white tinge of the marble below,” says the Doctor, “ I 
