Al-Franj: the Crusaders in the Levant / Culture in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem

“‘The height of this iron fence which encloses the rock is two fathoms.’”

Another contemporary historian and traveller, al-Hurawy (d. 611 / 1215) recalls seeing the Crusader metal grille around the rock: ‘I saw this rock at the time of the Franks; it was north of this dome [of the Aqsa Mosque] and was surrounded by an iron fence like a house is. The height of this iron fence which encloses the rock is two fathoms’.

NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Metal grille/enclosureHegira 6th century / AD 12th centuryCrusaderIslamic Museum, al-Aqsa Mosque / al-Haram al-Sharif
Jerusalem
An example of ironwork imported from Europe, this grille once formed a fence around the venerated Rock located at the centre of the Dome of the Rock.
Dome of the RockHegira 72 / AD 691UmayyadJerusalemThe Dome of the Rock at the Haram al-Sharif.
Dome of the RockHegira 72 / AD 691UmayyadJerusalemThe Dome of the Rock at the Haram al-Sharif.