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Pagan Mosque or Church ?


Pagan Mosque or Church ?
Photo Information
Copyright: Robert Akrawi (rafid76) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 508 W: 12 N: 513] (2510)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-02
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Olympus E-500, Olympus 14 -45 mm Digital
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/15 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-11-29 15:15
Viewed: 990
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Umayyad Mosque

Lying at the east end of Souk al Hamidiyeh, it is a place of magnificent beauty.

Its history goes back three thousand years. This location was first used as a temple dedicated to the worship of Hadad, who is the Aramean deity representing sun and thunder. Later on, in the 1st century AD, a large temple was built by the Romans and was dedicated to the Roman god of gods, Jupiter.

When the Roman capital moved from Rome to Constantinople in 330 Christianity began to spread in the empire and was soon considered the official religion. It was then that the Emperor Theodosius abolished pagan worship and made it the cathedral of the city, and it was dedicated to John the Baptist.

Arab conquest in 636 did not affect it, it remained a church although the Muslims built a mud brick structure against the southern wall so that they could pray. Through time Christians became few and Muslims were increasing, so it was changed into a mosque. It was worked on by Architects from Constantinople, Egypt, and Damascus.

It now holds the Shrine of John the Baptist's head, and there are many rumors to explain how it came to be here. One is that Herod sent it to Damascus so that the Romans could be sure of his execution, while another is that when the Arabs took over the church, John the Baptist's blood bubbled and when the church was demolished his head was found underneath it with skin and hair.

The plan of the mosque is quite simple, there is a magnificent courtyard which is heavily decorated by mosaics. In the middle of the courtyard are the Dome of the hours, the ablutions fountain, and the beautifully decorated Dome of the treasure.

This mosque is one of the few mosques that has three minarets, Minaret of the Bride (9th and 12th centuries), Minaret of Qat Bey (15th century), and the Minaret of Jesus (13th century).
Manuel1982, YavuzA, adores, Wanda1, miuky, ALIRIZA, ellie, Boots, Yffic, smash2707 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Emiel_Skyfreak: nosie reductionrafid76 1 01-08 00:10
To Lix: thxrafid76 1 11-29 16:26
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Rob
this is a very good shot.
Well done!

Bye
Alessandro

Excellent POV, nice colours and light.
TFS,
Andreea

Hi Robert,
fantastic shot with perfect light and excellent sharpness. The moon is a nice detail. So, well done.
TFS
Best Regards
Manuel

Hi Robert,
Nice colors and very good POV , lovely good scene , fram is also very good , well done Regards

  • Great 
  • paura Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3989 W: 8 N: 2640] (21442)
  • [2006-11-29 16:45]

Robert,
Excellent shot here. One from your top ten photos. Fantastic composition and POV from this beautiful place. Nice the moon detail.

regards

Paulo

  • Great 
  • adores Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2625 W: 52 N: 3655] (11733)
  • [2006-11-29 18:10]

Hi Robert!
This photo is really beautiful, the light, the colours, the perspective, the moon and it's one of the places I really want to visit. Really beautiful!
regards, Anabela

  • Great 
  • Wanda1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1221 W: 21 N: 1425] (7703)
  • [2006-11-29 22:46]

Hi robert,
I like your diagonal composition here. Nice warm ambient light of the building against the deep blue sky, and the moon included is great.
Regards
Wanda

Hi Roberts,
I love the way you have captured the lights and the mood.

  • Great 
  • toto Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2452 W: 107 N: 2647] (14064)
  • [2006-11-30 14:25]

Très beau batiment,très belles couleurs et l' éclairage est superbe. Thomas

Great shot with perfect colors.
And of course, your Pov is just terrific.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • miuky Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 443 W: 48 N: 610] (3335)
  • [2006-12-01 4:27]

Great picture Robert, exellent golden color here
and the line, and...the not!
Regards, M:)

Hi Robert,
Great diagonal composition with moon. Nice warm colors, good light and deep blue sky. Well done...
Regards...
Ali Rıza

Fine shot. Nice POV and good warm colours. Sharpness is fine. Like all the lights.
Only problem for me is the noise in the sky, could easily have been removed in CS2. Further fine work.

Might upload a WS tomorrow, I've removed the noise, but am at my daily WS limit..hope I will not forget..;)
Greetings.

  • Great 
  • Yffic Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 17 N: 1157] (5736)
  • [2007-02-13 7:25]

Hi Rob,

A very nice nightshot.
Your job on exposure time is really great.
I like theses golden colors

Regards.

Yves

Good night shot with a great light balance and a very nice perspective. Regards, Yvonne

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