How does the Great Mosque of Damascus "owe much to the architecture of the Greco-Roman and Early Christian East"?

Question

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Answer 1

The Great Mosque of Damascus borrowed many of main tenants and building stylizations in architectural work from Greko Roman and Early Christian East. The Ummayyads transferred there capital from Mecca to Damascus in 661, effectively initiating the creating of this amazing architectural work. The Umayyads bought a Roman church, and demolished it, but used the Roman precinct walls as a foundation for there own construction. The Islamic builders incorporated stone blocks, columns and capitals salvaged from the earlier structures, which were all very prevalent in Roman and Early Christian architectural building. Peir arcades, which were very reminiscent of Roman aqueducts framed the courtyard of this mosque. THey also used minarets (1 at the south corner and on on the northern side), which were similar to the Roman square towers. Its entrance contains a facade with a pediment and arches, which were reminiscent of the Roman and Byzantium models. The facades face the temple, like Roman temples.

It is constructed from masonry blocks, columns, and capitals salvaged from the remains of Roman and Early Christian structures in the area. Roman precinct walls form part of the foundation of the mosque. The courtyard of the mosque has pier arcades reminiscent of Roman aqueducts. The minarets are modifications of Roman square towers. The entrance façade has a pediment suggestive of both Roman and Byzantine models. The mosque is basically a synthesis of the architectural elements taken from these cultures.