Fake? I always thought the gilt was real gold. It looks like it.
21:12 IDF troops open fire on Palestinian sabotaging fence near Ramallah (Israel Radio)
So did I until I was reading an archeological magazine. "The Glowing Cupola of the Dome of the Rock, rising to a height of 95 feet, is made of wood painted with a gold alloy (it is not plated)." I guess "gilt" would be the right word...it just isn't solid gold.
Also note that according to tenth-century Arab geographer Al-Muqaddasi, who lived in Jerusalem, many Arabs believed the Dome of the Rock was originally built to compete in beauty with the splendor of other churches, especially the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This, he added, would prevent Muslims from being enchanted by the Christian holy places.
And while we are at it, for those who think they worship the same God as Christians: Two inscriptions on copper plates over the eastern and southern gates of the structure carry clear messages: "The Unity of God and the Prophecy of Muhammed are true," and "The Sonship of Jesus and the Trinity are false."