The ground plan of the Umayyad Mosque is rectangle in shape and measures by . A large courtyard occupies the northern part of the mosque complex , while the '' haram '' ( " sanctuary " ) covers the southern part . The courtyard is enclosed by four exterior walls . The level of the stone pavement had become uneven over time due to several repairs throughout the mosque 's history , but recent work on the courtyard has restored it to its consistent Umayyad-era levels . Arcades ( '' riwaq '' ) surround the courtyard supported by alternating stone columns and piers . There is one pier in between every two columns . Because the northern part of the courtyard had been destroyed in an earthquake in 1759 , the arcade is not consistent ; when the northern wall was rebuilt the columns that were supporting it were not
an earthquake in 1759
Near East earthquakes of 1759
Umayyad Mosque