Dome of the Chain

The Dome of the Chain is a freestanding structure with a hexagonal base located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Seventeen marble columns support a central dome, decorated with geometric patterns and ornamental details that can be seen from outside.

This building was built in 691 CE under Caliph Abd al-Malik as an early structure on the mount. During the Crusader period it served as a chapel, but returned to Islamic use in 1187.

The building takes its name from a medieval Islamic belief that a divine chain would appear here to reveal honest people from those telling lies. This legend gave the place spiritual meaning that still resonates in how people understand its purpose today.

You can observe this building from the outside and study its original architectural features like marble columns and geometric decorations. The location requires respectful behavior and appropriate clothing as is customary in religious areas.

This structure serves as the geometric center of the entire complex and is sometimes understood as a model or teaching building for the larger dome nearby. Its intimate size and open arcades offer a close look at Islamic architectural principles.