FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop

Conclusion
The Umayyad Empire was rapidly growing, spreading Islam
both to the East and to the West. To consolidate their power,
the Damascus-based dynasty of Marwanids wanted to turn the
hearts of all believers from Mecca and Medina to Jerusalem.
AI-Quds would be the new religious capital of the Islamic Empire
and no expenses were spared in building the magnificent
Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. The city was flourishing
under Umayyad rule.
In order to enhance the status of Jerusalem also, the routes
the pilgrims took to the new religious capital were made as
convenient as possible and even luxurious. The routes to Jerusalem
from Damascus, through the Jordan Valley, and from the
eastern desert, the heartland of Islam, met at Jericho. Travelers,
merchants and pilgrims were greeted at this important
station by a five star luxurious caravanserai. The lower store of
the khan provided shelter for the goods and the upper store
sleeping places for the travelers. The fountain outside gave
water for the animals. In addition, the travelers had a most
beautiful bath house with hot rooms at their service. There
was also a Mosque where they could pray. Over the entrance
to this over 100 meter long, impressive establishment stood
the statue of Caliph Hisham himself, the ruler of a mighty empire,
and the self-proclaimed leader of Islam.
A massive earthquake, shaking the entire Levant 746/7, put an
abrupt end to this monument. At the same time, the Abbasid
dynasty took over the rule of Islam and the Umayyad period
came to an end. The route to Jerusalem lost its importance,
since the Holy City was now, again, Mecca.
The site was not totally abandoned, as analysis of the archaeological
evidence shows that there were still people using the
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