Bk. I. C;i. II. SYRIA AND EGYPT. 507 is concerned, it may rank among the first of its class ; and it has always been considered so sacred that repairs and additions have constantly been made to it since its erection, more than eleven centnries ago ; but, as in the case of its contemporary, the Aksah at Jerusalem, the result is far from satisfactory. In this respect these two buildings form, as just mentioned, a most singular conti'ast with the Dome of the Kock at Jerusalem (Woodcuts No. 867 to 870). That is perfect — solemn and solid, and one of the most impressive buildings in the world, both externally and internally; while the erections of the Moslems are rickety, in spite of all repairs, and produce no impression of greatness notwithstanding their dimensions and antiquity. The additions made by the Moslems to the mosque at Hebron (Woodcut No. 841) are mean and insignificant to the last degree ; and beyond these it is^difficult to say what there is in Syria built by them tliat is worthy of attention. There are some handsome fountains at Jerusalem, some details at Hasbeiya, a few large khans at Beisan and elsewhere, and some very fine city gates and remnants of military architecture ; but the tombs are insignificant, and, except the two mosques described, there seems to be no example of monumental architecture of any importance. The one building epoch of the country occurred when the Roman in^ fiuence was at its height, during the first five centuries of the Christian era. Since that time very .little has been done, except by the Crusad- ers, worthy of record ; and before it nothing that, from an architectural point of view, would deserve a place in history. Egypt. In Egypt our history begins with the mosque which Amrou, in the 21st year of the Hejira (a.d. 642) erected at Old Cairo ; its original dimensions were only 50 cubits, or 75 ft. long, by 30 cubits, or 45 ft. wide, Edrisi ^ says that it was originally a Christian church which the Moslems converted into a mosque ; and its dimensions and form would certainly lead us to suppose that, if not so, it was at least built after the pattern of the Christian churches of that age. As early, however, as the 53d year of the Hejira it was enlarged, and again in the 79th ; and it apparently was almost wholly rebuilt by the two great builders of that age, Abd el-Malek and Walid, the builders of the mosques of Jerusalem and Damascus. It probably now remains in all essential parts as left by these 1 Translated by Jaubert, toiii. i. p. 803. The particulars of the description in the text are taken from M. Girault de Prangey, " Monumens Arabes," com- pared with M. Coste's "Edifices de Caire."
