<imgsrc="/2017/01/IMG_20170117_083551.jpg"alt="Golden dome, vibrant tiles, and elegant Arabic calligraphy"/>
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<h4>Golden dome, vibrant tiles, and elegant Arabic calligraphy</h4>
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<p>While not <em>technically</em> in Jordan, Jerusalem’s <ahref="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock">Dome of the Rock</a> is basically just a stone’s throw away from Amman (pun intended). Not only is this shrine capped with a golden dome, covered in vibrant Ottoman-era tilework, and adorned with elegant Arabic calligraphy, it also boasts an <ahref="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_Stone">impressive resume of sacred claims to fame</a>.</p>
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<imgsrc="/2017/01/IMG_20170117_092406.jpg"alt="The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount"/>
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<h4>The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount</h4>
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<p>The shrine, built nearly 1,000 years ago, stands atop a hotly contested complex called the <ahref="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Mount">Temple Mount</a> (“Noble Sanctuary” in Arabic) that dates back to the Canaanites four thousand years ago—like I said, an impressive resume!</p>
<p>As a secular person it’s all a bit too heavy for my taste, but there’s no doubt that the complex is stunningly beautiful. Visitation of the Temple Mount is open to the non-Muslim public from 7:30 to 11:00 AM from the access bridge at the Western Wall in the Jewish Quarter of the old city.</p>
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