Which mosque in Damascus was built by Umayyad caliph al-Walid I between 706 and 715?

The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus was built by Umayyad caliph al-Walid I between 706 and 715.

The mosque stands on a site used for worship for thousands of years. A Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter occupied the location, followed by a Christian basilica associated with John the Baptist. The Umayyads transformed the site into a monumental congregational mosque after Damascus became their capital.

Its richly decorated mosaics, marble work, broad prayer hall, and prominent courtyard made it an influential model for later Islamic architecture. The shrine traditionally identified with the head of John the Baptist is inside the mosque. It is also sometimes called the Great Mosque of Damascus, so readers may confuse that descriptive name with its formal historical name.

The mosque suffered fires and damage over the centuries, but major architectural elements and parts of its celebrated decoration remain visible. It should not be confused with the Great Mosque of Aleppo, another important Syrian monument.