Its Cyclope'an walls were founded by Solomon. Upon it stood the Temple,in whose shrine the Glory of the Lord so often appeared, and in whose courts Christ so often taught.It is still to the Moslem "the Noble Sanctuary," and, next to Mecca,the most venerated sanctuary in the world.The platform itself―simple, massive, and grand―is a striking object;but the buildings it contains greatly contribute to its beauty.In its centre, on a raised area of white marble, stands the Mosque of Omar,one of the most splendid mosques in the world, octagonal in form,encrusted with encaustic tiles of gorgeous colours, and surmounted by a graceful dome.From its area the ground slopes away to the encircling ramparts ingentle undulations of green turf, diversified with marble arcades, gilded cupolas,fountains, and prayer-niches;―all interspersed with venerable cypresses, olives, and palms.At the southern end is a large group of stately buildings,including the Mosque el-Aksa, once the Church of the Virgin;and round the sides of the platform are cloisters, here and there covered with domes,and surmounted by tall minarets. The quiet seclusion of this sanctuary,the rich green of its grass and foliage, the dazzling whiteness of its pavements and fountains,the brilliant tints of the central mosque, and, above all, its sacred associations,make it one of the most charming and interesting spots on Earth.
它那巨大的城墙是由所罗门建造的，上面有大殿，主的荣耀常常在殿里显现，基督也常在殿里教化世人。这里至今仍是穆斯林的“尊贵圣殿”，紧挨着麦加，是世界上最受尊敬的圣所。平台结构简单、体型庞大、气势宏伟，本身便极具魅力，而它里面的建筑更是增添了它的美。平台中心的位置，在一个凸起的白色大理石之上，矗立着奥马尔的清真寺，它是世界上最壮丽的清真寺之一。该清真寺结构呈八角形，镶嵌着颜色华丽的釉砖，上面是优美的圆顶。地面从清真寺所在的位置一路倾斜到起伏的绿色草地上环绕着的城墙，多样化的大理石拱廊、镀金的圆屋顶、喷泉和神龛，所有这些都是庄严的柏树、橄榄和棕榈树的点缀。最南边是一群庄严的建筑，其中就有阿克萨清真寺，它曾经是一座圣母教堂。平台四周是回廊，回廊之上到处覆盖着圆顶，圆顶之上有高高的尖塔。这静谧的与世隔绝的避难所，长满了郁郁葱葱的青草和树叶，那耀眼的人行道和喷泉，那中央清真寺的灿烂色彩，还有最重要的，那神圣的联想，使它成为地球上最迷人、最有趣的地方之一。
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