Dome of the Chain

Dome of the Chain is a small, free-standing domed oratory on the Temple Mount/Al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, usually dated to the Umayyad period in the late 7th century. It is one of several early Islamic structures on the platform and is notable for its compact domed form.

Situated just east of the larger Dome of the Rock, the structure is octagonal and open on several sides so visitors see its columns, arches and remnants of decorative stonework and tile. The monument is compact in scale and is typically viewed as part of the larger Haram plateau rather than as a standalone attraction.

The building is typically dated to the Umayyad era and is associated with early Islamic construction on the Temple Mount. It has been repaired and altered in later centuries during medieval and Ottoman periods, and it has long been described in sources as an oratory and as a place linked to local traditions about dispute settlement.

The dome sits within the Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem’s Old City, immediately east of the rock-platform shrine. It is inside the boundaries of the Haram compound rather than in the surrounding city streets.

• Access: Located inside the Al-Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount compound, so visitor access follows the compound's opening hours and security rules.
• Best viewing spot: Often photographed together with the nearby Dome of the Rock because of its proximity and smaller, open-sided form.