Gallery
Description
Property Name: Golden Gate, al-Bab al-Zahabi (in Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, Al-Haram Ash-Sharif)
Inventory No: 972-2-5
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2007-10-23
Country (State party): Palestine
Province : Al Quds/Jerusalem
Town: Old town
Geographic coordinates: 31° 46′ 44.13″ N
35° 14′ 12.73″ E
Historic Period: Umayyad
Year of Construction: 691-705
Style: Umayyad
Original Use: Gate
Current Use: Gate
Architect: Unknown
Significance
The double gate which is one of the monumental structures in Haram al-Sharif is an ancient historical door carved inside Al Aqsa eastern wall. It consists of two gates, one to the south (Al Rahma – Mercy) and one to the north (Al-Tawbah – Repentance).
Selection Criteria
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
The monument is in a good condition, however some of the decorations need to be restored. This door is currently closed; it was shut by Saladin when he entered Jerusalem in order to protect the city from future raids. This door and its hall were built by the Islamic Heritage Committee, and it has taken its headquarters in Al-Aqsa activities since 1992, until the Israeli occupation authorities dissolved the committee in 2003.
References
ed. Auld, Sylvia and Hillenbrand, Robert; arch. survey by Yusuf Natsheh. Ottoman Jerusalem: the living city: 1517-1917. London: Altajir World of Islam Trust, 2000.
Burgoyne, Michael Hamilton. Mamluk Jerusalem: An Architectural Study. Jerusalem: British School of Archeology in Jerusalem. 1987.
Burgoyne, Michael Hamilton. The Gates of the Haram al-Sharif. In Bayt al-Maqdis: Abd al-Malik Jerusalem. edited by Raby, Julian and Johns, Jeremy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Duncan, Alistair, The Noble sanctuary: portrait of a holy place in Arab Jerusalem. London: Longman, 1972.
Elad, Amikam. Medieval Jerusalem and Islamic Holy Places, Ceremonies, Pilgrimage. |Brill Leiden, Netherlands, 1995.
Grabar, Oleg. The Dome of the Rock. Thames and Hudson Ltd., London, 1996.
Kroyanker, David. Jerusalem Architecture. Tauris Parke Books, London, 1994.
Mehling Franz N., Paukert Maria, Pollmann Bernhard and Studemund Michael. Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Edited by Mehling Marianne. Oxford: Phaidon, 169-170
Najm, Raip Yusuf, The Treasures of Jerusalem. Arabic Cities Organization, Al-Beti Establishment, 1983
Sha’th, Shawqi. Al-Quds Al-Shareef. ISESCO, Rabat,1995.
Wilson, Colonel Sir Charles W. Jerusalem, The Holy City. Ariel Publishing House, Jerusalem. No date.