The southern, southwestern and western platform arcades seen from the east; the stone pulpit is at left.Photograph · 2022-07-28 09:18:53
Yair Haklai·CC BY-SA 4.0· Resized and converted to WebP for the web; cropped in cards. Original image license retained.
Overview
Eight sets of arches mark the stairways around the raised terrace. [1][8][2]
The bawaik frame the stairs around the Dome of the Rock’s platform. They belong to the terrace, unlike the perimeter gates in the enclosure wall. Comparing them reveals different numbers of openings and distinct decorative and rebuilding histories. [1][8][2]
The southern arcade faces Al-Qibli and Al-Kas, while the eastern arcade has five openings. Inscriptions at other arcades record Mamluk and Ottoman work. These are related architectural features, not eight copies of a single design. [1][2][5][4]
Details & spaces
Explore the named elements associated with this place.
Southern Arcade
البائكة الجنوبية
Four openings face the southern courtyard and Al-Kas. Awqaf records a sundial added in 1927. [1]
Eastern Arcade
البائكة الشرقية
Five openings span the stairway on the eastern side of the terrace. Awqaf treats its early dating as an attribution, rather than an inscribed founding date. [2]
Western Arcade
البائكة الغربية
Four openings face the western entrance of the Dome of the Rock. Awqaf records later Fatimid and Ottoman renewal. [3]
Northwestern Arcade
البائكة الشمالية الغربية
Four openings near the Dome of the Spirits. An inscription records renewal under the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman. [4]
Northeastern Arcade
البائكة الشمالية الشرقية
Three openings with carved cushions and muqarnas. Awqaf connects its inscriptions with Sultan Muhammad ibn Qalawun. [5]
Southwestern Arcade
البائكة الجنوبية الغربية
Three openings beside the Grammarians’ Dome, facing the Chain Gate area. The Awqaf record identifies a Mamluk construction phase. [6]
Southeastern Arcade
البائكة الجنوبية الشرقية
Three openings with inscriptions associated with Fatimid work and Ayyubid renewal under al-Muazzam Isa. [7]
Northern Arcade
البائكة الشمالية
Three openings on the north side. Awqaf records a rebuilding inscription of Sultan Muhammad ibn Qalawun. This arcade is included even though it is absent from the seven numbered arcades in the 2015 guide’s legend. [8]
PASSIA · Jerusalem Awqaf · Hashemite Fund · Printed pp. 54–65; map legend on PDF page 35
Consulted 2026-10-13
Custodial guide from an Islamic perspective. Used for the baseline inventory and schematic relative positions; its access descriptions are historical, not live advice.
About this record
Relative positions are illustrative; this is a heritage atlas, not a walking route or live access map.
