Overview
An open, column-supported dome standing just east of the Dome of the Rock. [3]
The Dome of the Chain stands east of the Dome of the Rock. An outer arrangement of eleven columns surrounds the six-column support of the dome, leaving most of the structure open to the terrace. [3]
The monument is associated with Umayyad patronage and later restoration. Its southern side contains a mihrab; Ottoman tiles replaced earlier mosaic decoration in the custodial account. [3]
Several explanations of its original purpose have been proposed, including a model for the Dome of the Rock or a treasury. These remain interpretations, not a securely demonstrated original function. Its name must also be distinguished from Chain Gate on the western boundary. [3]
