Umayyad Mosque of Damascus

Damascus, Syria

One of the largest and oldest mosques in the world, built by the Umayyad caliph al-Walid I. It set the architectural template for congregational mosques across the Islamic world.

Historical Context

Caliph al-Walid I commissioned the mosque in 706 CE, employing Byzantine craftsmen to create its famous golden mosaics. The existing Church of St. John was incorporated into the new structure. The mosque served as the spiritual center of the Umayyad Empire, the first dynasty to rule from Damascus.