Architectural Wonders

Three Architertural Wonders:

The Great Mosque, Mecca

http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/saudi_arabia/mecca.html

This is the birthplace of the Islamic religion. It is located in Sirat Mountains in Saudi Arabia. It is also the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. Every year pilgrims take part in a journey to visit this mosque in order to see and kiss the Ka'ba shrine. This is a large sacred stone. This journey is call Hajj and each pilgrim is obligated to perform this journey atleast once in their lifetime if health and finances allow it (they must prepare in advance for this sort of journey) ("Mecca").

Sources: "Mecca." Places of Peace and Power. http://www.sacredsites.com/middle_east/saudi_arabia/mecca.html. Accessed May 28, 2009.

The Prophet's Mosque, Medina

This mosque was built by Prophet Muhammed after 622AD. It was built in order to read the Qur'an. Originally, the mosque was not this big and was originally built with palm trees and and walls of mud, over time as more and more Muslims began to follow the mosque had to increase in size ("Medina").

Sources: "Medina." Sacred Destinations. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/medina-prophets-mosque.htm. Accessed May 28th, 2009.

Old Jeddah

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-17763046.html

One of Saudi Arabias secret cities. It is the gateway into Mecca which during the pilgram journey, Hajj, it ables the Muslims to enter through atleast once in their lifetime. For a long time this city was closed off to tourists, this is why the city is an architectural wonder, because it was hidden behind other marktes and structures for many, many years ("Jeddah").

Sources: "Jeddah." The Coral Sity of Old Jeddan. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-17763046.html. Accessed May 28, 2009.