KAABA, or CAABA, pro: erly a quadrangu lar structure, but a name particularly applied to a celebrated temple at Mecca. According to Mussulman tradition, the first Kaaba was built by the angels on the model of the pavilion which surrounds the throne of the Most High; the second was built by Adam, with whom it was removed to the skies, where it still exists in a right line above the Kaaba of Mecca; the third was built by Seth, but perished in the del uge; the fourth, which now exists, was built by Abraham and Ishmael. The name is specially given to a small oratory in the temple in the centre of a large space surrounded by galleries. It is an irregular cube, 40 feet long, 33 feet in width and about 50 feet in height. This is the point toward which the prayers of all Mussul mans are directed. In a corner (the southeast) fixed at a height of five feet from the ground is the famous black stone, believed to be one of the precious stones of paradise, and to have been brought by the angel Gabriel to when he was constructing the Kaaba. At first, according to one version, of a dazzling white ness, the Moslems say that it grieved and wept so long for the sins of the human race that it became gradually opaque, and at length abso lutely black; or, in another version, that it has been blackened by the tears of pilgrims, shed for sin. It is an object of profound venera tion to the pilgrims who resort to the sacred city. This inner Kaaba is surrounded with a veil of black silk, and is opened but three times a year, and none but the faithful are permitted to approach it. The temple of the Kaaba is older than the time of Mohammed, previous to whom it was the Arab pantheon, containing the nation's idols. ' The Prophet destroyed the idols, but suffered the most characteristic form of worship to remain—the tawaf, or seven fold circuit of the sanctuary. In the Prophet's
day the outer walls were covered by a veil of striped cloth. This gave way under the caliphate to a covering of figured brocade and the Khedive of still sends such a covering with each pilgrim caravan. A broad band on these coverings is embroidered with inscrip tions from the Koran. The door as well as the posts and lintel is of gilt silver. Modem de scriptions of the interior do not always tally, which difference is due to the difficulty of ob servation. It is well agreed, however, that little change has been made since the days of Ibn Jubair, who speaks of the upper parts of the walls as plated with silver and gilt, the roof veiled with silk and the floor and lower part of the walls covered with rich marbles. He also mentions windows of stained glass but modem travelers appear to have overlooked these. Thirteen silver lamps hung between the teak pillars. A silver-plated door opens on a stair leading to the roof. The caliph Mandi expended lavishly on the decorations and in 'beautifying the place of prayer around ((the Ancient House. He brought pillars from Egypt and Syria. The work was extended by his successors and re pairs continued down to Turkish times.
Biblioraphy.— Burckhardt, 'Travels in Arabia' London 1829) ; Burton, 'Pilgrimage to El-Me /nah and Meccah' (ib. 1855) ; Win tenfeld, 'Die Chroniken der Stadt Meldca' (Leipzig 1861) ; Snouk-Hurgronje, (The Hague 1889) ; Sahib Soubhi, a la Mecque et a bAidin& (Cairo 1894) ; Well hausen, and Vorarbeiten' (Berlin 1897) ; Grimrne, 'Mohammed' (Munich 1904) ; Huart, 'Histoire des Arabes) (Paris 1912).