Overview

The Arched Gates (البوائك), also known as Qanatir (قناطر) and The Scales (الموازين) (according to legend, the scales will be suspended on these arches or in place of these arches on the Day of Judgement) are gateways surrounding the Dome of the Rock Platform. Each gateway comprises a number of stone or marble columns that are linked together through arches and are connected to a staircase to facilitate worshipers' access to the four-meter-high platform. The gates additionally serve a decorative function.

These arches also represent the different eras Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa has witnessed over the centuries, such as the Umayyad, Mamluk, Abbasids, and Fatimid eras.

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Reference

Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (passia.org)‎
‎Madain Project (madainproject.com)