The Dome of the Rock – a signifier of the beginning of the history of Islamic art

Abstract

A dome on the rock is the first monumental masterpiece of Islamic architecture in the Umayyad time. Like the Big Mosque in Damascus it was raised on different authentic elements of Syria and Mesopotamia and on the inspiration that once used to be suppressed, but which was released by Islam. This is the work of the mentality ruled by a cosmic feeling of a temple, which expresses its metaphysical experience and universality by means of dome. In the dome on rock Islam started materializing its first really artistic forms so its aesthetics started safer steps towards self-formation. Dome designates originating of a new art and its language in which Beauty starts speaking not only by means of nature and by forms created through meeting immediate requests of the faith but also by means of art, not betraying its metaphysical meaning though. A dome the on rock designates a start of Islamic art history and realization of Islam in new, more complex, forms of spirit. As such, it also designates a beginning of its coming out from perfect simplicity. The Truth that Allah announced as Instruction to the worlds ceases to live only in pure forms of the faith. It gradually enters culturally and civilizationally articulated areas of time and history. It becomes “forced” to materialize, to accept certain forms of the world to which it is addressed to, in order to materialize its purpose in it. It took rise from requests of culturally and historically rich world which Islam has met not only as a stimulus to its development and realization in civilization dimensions, but also as a treat and serious challenge to its own identity. A dome on rock is a first significant attempt of Islam to respond to these challenges in the media of art.

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