Dome

Detailed view of the dome of the Dome of the Rock.

"The current exterior of the dome is made up of 1200 trapezoidal shaped brass sheets, which were first plated with a thin layer of copper and then a layer of nickel. An anode covered with felt and impregnated with a liquefied gold solution was then passed over the sheets depositing a thickness of 2.3 microns of gold. A total of 80 kilograms of gold, costing then $1.5 million were used. The work was financed by the late King Hussein, who donated $8.25 million, raised by selling off property he owned in the UK."

On the top of the dome is a “full moon” symbol—the opening through which points towards Mecca.

Information courtesy of Leen Ritmeyer.