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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Mecca
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1992-09-03
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city in Saudi Arabia and, as birthplace of
Mohammed, the holiest city of the Islamic
world; population (1974) 367,000. In the
center of Mecca is the Great Mosque, in the
courtyard of which is the Kaaba, the sacred
shrine containing the black stone believed to
have been given to Abraham by the angel
Gabriel.
It also contains the well Zam-Zam, associated
by tradition with the biblical characters
Hagar and Ishmael. Most pilgrims come via the
port of Jiddah.