Main Hall

Main Hall

View looking south at the main hall of the Kubat al–Sechina.  The niche in the far wall (south) faces toward Jerusalem and thus this structure may have originally been a synagogue.

The current niche is probably a Mihrab indicating the direction (qibla) towards Mecca.  Note the two windows on the far wall—possibly the structure had a nave and two aisles.  The capitals on the right are Corinthian Capitals that were taken in the Medieval Period and reused here.

This Byzantine structure (4th/5th century CE) faces south and apparently was a synagogue.  It's sloping walls were added later and in the 14th century it was a mosque called "The Dome of the Divine Presence" (Kubat al–Sechina).  In the 19th century it was called Jamah a–Sitin ("the Mosque of the Sixty").

Over the centuries some have thought that this is where the tabernacle had been located while others have argued that this is the site of the Tomb of Eli.