Crescent on the Temple

"e;The Crescent on the Temple"e; by Pamela Berger elucidates an obscured tradition-how the Dome of the Rock came to stand for the Temple of Solomon in Christian, Muslim, and Jewish art. The crusaders called the Dome of the Rock the "e;Temple of the Lord,"e; while Muslim imagery depicted Solomon enthroned within the domed structure. Jews knew that the ancient Temple had been destroyed. Nevertheless, in their imagery, they commonly labeled the Muslim shrine "e;The Temple."e; That domed "e;Temple"e; was often represented with a crescent on top. This iconography, long hidden in plain sight, reflects one aspect of an historical affinity between Jews and Muslims.