The Historical Background of the Erection of the Dome of the Rock

Shelomo Dov Goitein's study explores the political, religious, and social conditions that led to the erection of the Dome of the Rock during the Umayyad period.

Drawing on historical texts and comparative evidence, Goitein considers motivations ranging from asserting Umayyad authority to engaging with existing Christian and Jewish sacred topography.

The work analyzes early chronicles and material indicators to reconstruct the monument's origins and significance.

Goitein's careful scholarship helps illuminate the interplay between imperial policy and religious symbolism in early Islamic Jerusalem.

The piece remains a key reference in scholarship on the Dome's early history.