Gold or plain stone for the Dome?
When the Dome of the Rock was built its makers faced a decoration choice: mosaic and gold gleaming over the city, proclaiming and honouring the place for centuries, or plain humble stone consecrating it to worship not appearance? The decision: splendour or humility?
The positions
the splendour party
beauty proclaims the place and honours it in the world's eyes
The evidence
they clad the dome in gold and mosaic until it became the city's icon
the humble party
the house is worshipped in, not gazed at; plainness first
The evidence
they preferred inner ornament and the Kaaba's lines over glitter
Sources: building/dome-of-the-rock
You decide
Which decoration would you have chosen as the builder? Write your reason.
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