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Alhambra
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheAlhambra(/lhmbr/Spanish:[alamba]

Arabic:

[lm],Alamr,lit."The
[Note1][Note2]
RedOne"),
thecompleteArabicformof
whichwasCalatAlhamra,[Note3]isapalaceand
fortresscomplexlocatedinGranada,Andalusia,
Spain.Itwasoriginallyconstructedasasmallfortress
inAD889ontheremainsofRomanfortificationsand
thenlargelyignoreduntilitsruinswererenovatedand
rebuiltinthemid13thcenturybytheMoorishemir
MohammedbenAlAhmaroftheEmirateofGranada,
whobuiltitscurrentpalaceandwalls.Itwas
convertedintoaroyalpalacein1333byYusufI,
SultanofGranada.[1]Aftertheconclusionofthe
ChristianReconquistain1492,thesitebecamethe
RoyalCourtofFerdinandandIsabella(where
ChristopherColumbusreceivedroyalendorsementfor
hisexpedition)andthepalaceswerepartiallyaltered
toRenaissancetastes.In1526CharlesI&V
commissionedanewRenaissancepalacebetter
befittingoftheHolyRomanEmperorinthe
revolutionaryManneriststyleinfluencedbyHumanist
philosophyindirectjuxtapositionwiththeNasrid
Andalusianarchitecture,butwhichwasultimately
nevercompletedduetoMoriscorebellionsin
Granada.

UNESCOWorldHeritageSite

Alhambra,GeneralifeandAlbayzn,Granada
NameasinscribedontheWorldHeritageList(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list)

Type

Cultural

Criteria

i,iii,iv

Reference

314bis(http://wh
c.unesco.org/en/li
st/314)

UNESCOregion(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/?sea EuropeandNorth
rch=&search_by_country=&type=&media=&region America
=&order=region)

Alhambra'slatefloweringofIslamicpalaceswere
Inscriptionhistory
builtforthelastMuslimemirsinSpainduringthe
declineoftheNasriddynastywhowereincreasingly
Inscription
1984(Extension:
subjecttotheChristianKingsofCastile.Afterbeing
1994) (Unknown
allowedtofallintodisrepairforcenturies,the
Session)
buildingsoccupiedbysquatters,Alhambrawas
rediscoveredfollowingthedefeatofNapoleon,who
hadconductedretaliatorydestructionofthesite,firstbyBritishintellectualsandthenbyothernorthEuropean
Romantictravelers.ItisnowoneofSpain'smajortouristattractions,exhibitingthecountry'smostsignificantand
wellknownIslamicarchitecture,togetherwith16thcenturyandlaterChristianbuildingandgardeninterventions.
TheAlhambraisaUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteandtheinspirationformanysongsandstories.[2]
Moorishpoetsdescribeditas"apearlsetinemeralds,"anallusiontothecolourofitsbuildingsandthewoods
aroundthem.[3]Thepalacecomplexwasdesignedwiththemountainoussiteinmindandmanyformsof
technologywereconsidered.Thepark(AlamedadelaAlhambra),whichisovergrownwithwildflowersandgrass
inthespring,wasplantedbytheMoorswithroses,oranges,andmyrtlesitsmostcharacteristicfeature,however,
isthedensewoodofEnglishelmsbroughtbytheDukeofWellingtonin1812.Theparkhasamultitudeof
nightingalesandisusuallyfilledwiththesoundofrunningwaterfromseveralfountainsandcascades.Theseare
suppliedthroughaconduit8km(5.0mi)long,whichisconnectedwiththeDarroatthemonasteryofJesusdel
ValleaboveGranada.[4]
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Despitelongneglect,willfulvandalism,andsomeilljudgedrestoration,theAlhambraenduresasanatypical
exampleofMuslimartinitsfinalEuropeanstages,relativelyuninfluencedbythedirectByzantineinfluences
foundintheMezquitaofCrdoba.Themajorityofthepalacebuildingsarequadrangularinplan,withallthe
roomsopeningontoacentralcourt,andthewholereacheditspresentsizesimplybythegradualadditionofnew
quadrangles,designedonthesameprinciple,thoughvaryingindimensions,andconnectedwitheachotherby
smallerroomsandpassages.AlhambrawasextendedbythedifferentMuslimrulerswholivedinthecomplex.
However,eachnewsectionthatwasaddedfollowedtheconsistentthemeof"paradiseonearth".Columnarcades,
fountainswithrunningwater,andreflectingpoolswereusedtoaddtotheaestheticandfunctionalcomplexity.In
everycase,theexteriorwasleftplainandaustere.Sunandwindwerefreelyadmitted.Blue,red,andagolden
yellow,allsomewhatfadedthroughlapseoftimeandexposure,arethecolorschieflyemployed.[4]
Thedecorationconsists,asarule,ofArabicinscriptionsthataremanipulatedintogeometricalpatternssetontoan
arabesquesetting.Paintedtilesarelargelyusedaspanellingforthewalls.[4]Muchofthearchitecturalornamentis
carvedstucco(plaster)ratherthanstone.ThepalacecomplexisdesignedintheMudjarstyle,whichis
characteristicofwesternelementsreinterpretedintoIslamicformsandwidelypopularduringtheReconquista,the
reconquestoftheIberianPeninsulafromtheMuslimsbytheChristiankingdoms.

Contents
1
2
3
4

Layout
Architecturaldetails
History
Overview
4.1 Royalcomplex
4.2 CourtoftheMyrtles
4.3 Hallofthe
Ambassadors
4.4 CourtoftheLions
andfountain
4.4.1 Fountainof
Lions
4.5 Hallofthe
Abencerrajes
4.6 Generalife
4.7 Otherfeatures
5 Influence
5.1 Inliterature
5.2 Inmusic
5.3 Inmathematics
5.4 Infilm
5.5 Invideogames
5.6 Inastronomy
6 Seealso
7 Furtherreading
8 Notes
9 References
9.1 Bibliography
10 Externallinks

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PanoramaoftheAlhambrafromMiradordeSanNicolas.Fromlefttoright:
Generalife,PicodelVeleta(mountain),PalaciosNazares,PalaceofCharles
V,Alcazaba

Panoramicview,illuminatedatnight

CourtyardofthePalaceofCharlesV

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Layout

ModernplanoftheAlhambra

Accordingtothesite'scurrentarchitectPedroSalmeronEscobar,the
Alhambraevolvedorganicallyoveraperiodofseveralcenturiesfromthe
ancienthilltopfortressdefinedbyanarrowpromontorycarvedbytheriver
DaroandoverlookingtheVegaorPlainofGranadaasitdescendsfromthe
SierraNevada.[5]Theredearthfromwhichthefortressisconstructedisa
granularaggregateheldtogetherbyamediumofredclaywhichgivesthe
resultinglayeredbrickandstonereinforcedconstruction(tapial
calicastrado)itscharacteristichueandisattherootofthenameof'theRed
Hill'.[6]

Thiscrudeearthinessiscounterpointedbythestartlingfinealabasterwhitestuccoworkofthefamousinteriors.[6]
Meltwaterfromthe'SnowyMountains'isdrawnacrossanarchedvaultattheeasterntipoftheTorredelAgua
('WaterTower')andchanneledthroughthecitadelviaacomplexsystemofconduits(acequia)andwatertanks(los
albercones)whichcreatethecelebratedinterplayoflight,soundandsurface.[6]
TheterraceorplateaucalledtheSabikahilluponwhichtheAlhambrasitsmeasuresabout740metres(2,430ft)in
lengthby205metres(670ft)atitsgreatestwidth.Itextendsfromwestnorthwesttoeastsoutheastandcoversan
areaofabout142,000squaremetres(1,530,000sqft).TheAlhambra'smostwesterlyfeatureistheAlcazaba
(citadel),astronglyfortifiedpositionbuilttoprotecttheoriginalpostRomandistrictsofIliberri,now'Centro',and
Grnataalyahd('GranadaoftheJews',nowRealejo,andtheMoorishsuburbofElAlbayzn.
Duetotouristicdemand,modernaccessrunscontrarytotheoriginalsequence
whichbeganfromaprincipleaccessviathePuertadelaJusticia('GateofJustice')
ontoalargeSouqorpublicmarketsquarefacingtheAlcazaba,nowsubdividedand
obscuredbylaterChristianeradevelopment.[6]FromthePuertadelVino(Wine
Gate)rantheCalleReal('RoyalStreet')dividingtheAlhambraalongitsaxialspine
intoasouthernresidentialquarterwithmosques,hamams(bathhouses)anddiverse
functionalestablishments.[7]Thegreaterportion,occupyingthenorthernedge,was
occupiedbyseveralpalacesofthenobilitywithextensivelandscapedgardens
commandingviewsovertheAlbayzin,allofwhichweresubservienttothegreat
ToweroftheAmbassadorsinthePalacioComareswhichactedastheroyal
audiencechamberandthroneroomwithitsthreearchedwindowsdominatingthe
city.TheprivateinternaliseduniverseofthePalaciodeLosLeones(Palaceofthe
Lions)adjoinsthepublicspacesatrightangles(seePlanillustration)butwas
originallyconnectedonlybythefunctionoftheRoyalBaths,the"EyeofAixa's
Room"servingastheexquisitelydecoratedfocusofmeditationandauthority
overlookingtherefinedgardenofLindaraja/Daraxatowardthecity.[7]

PlanoftheNasridPalaces
andEmperor,1889.
Palacesofthe
Ambassadors
PalaceoftheLions

TherestoftheplateaucomprisesanumberofearlierandlaterMoorishpalaces,
Mexuar
enclosedbyafortifiedwall,withthirteendefensivetowers,somesuchasthe
GardenofLindajarand
TorresdelaInfantaandCattivacontainingelaborateverticalpalacesin
[7]
laterhabitationofthe
miniature. TheriverDarropassesthrougharavineonthenorthanddividesthe
Emperor
plateaufromtheAlbaicndistrictofGranada.Similarly,theAssabicavalley,
containingtheAlhambraParkonthewestandsouth,and,beyondthisvalley,the
almostparallelridgeofMonteMauror,separateitfromtheAntequerueladistrict.Anotherravineseparatesitfrom

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theGeneralife,thesummerpleasuregardensoftheEmir.Escobarnotesthatthelaterplantingofdeciduouselms
obscurestheoverallperceptionofthelayoutsuchthatabetterreadingoftheoriginallandscapeisgiveninwinter
whenthetreesarebare.[8]

Architecturaldetails
Thedecorationwithinthepalacescomesfromthelastgreatperiodof
AndalusianartinGranada.WithlittleoftheByzantineinfluenceof
contemporaryAbassidarchitecture,[3]artistsendlesslyreproducedthesame
formsandtrends,creatinganewstylethatdevelopedoverthecourseofthe
NasridDynasty.TheNasridsusedfreelyallthestylisticelementsthathad
beencreatedanddevelopedduringeightcenturiesofMuslimruleinthe
Peninsula,includingtheCaliphatehorseshoearch,theAlmohadsebka(a
gridofrhombuses),theAlmoravidpalm,anduniquecombinationsofthem,
aswellasinnovationssuchasstiltedarchesandmuqarnas(stalactiteceiling
decorations).Structurally,thedesignissimpleanddoesnotevince
significantinnovation.Whileartisticallypleasingitwasuntilthe
reconqueststructuarallyadhocandreliantontheskillsofsubjectartisans
andworkers.

Muqarnasceilingdecoration

Columnsandmuqarnasappearinseveralchambers,andtheinteriorsofnumerous
palacesaredecoratedwitharabesquesandcalligraphy.Thearabesquesofthe
interiorareascribedto,amongothersultans,YusufI,MohammedV,andIsmailI,
SultanofGranada.

Arabesquesaroundawindow

AftertheChristianconquestofthecityin1492,theconquerorsbegantoalterthe
Alhambra.Theopenworkwasfilledupwithwhitewash,thepaintingandgilding
effaced,andthefurnituresoiled,torn,orremoved.[3]CharlesI(15161556)rebuilt
portionsintheRenaissancestyleoftheperiodanddestroyedthegreaterpartofthe
winterpalacetomakeroomforaRenaissancestylestructurewhichwasnever
completed.PhilipV(17001746)Italianisedtheroomsandcompletedhispalacein
themiddleofwhathadbeentheMoorishbuildinghehadpartitionsconstructed
whichblockedupwholeapartments.[4]

OversubsequentcenturiestheMoorishart
wasfurtherdamaged,andin1812someofthetowersweredestroyedby
theFrenchunderCountSebastiani.[4]In1821,anearthquakecausedfurther
damage.Restorationworkwasundertakenin1828bythearchitectJos
Contreras,endowedin1830byFerdinandVII.AfterthedeathofContreras
in1847,itwascontinuedwithfairsuccessbyhissonRafael(died1890)
andhisgrandson.[4]

History

Detailofarabesques

CompletedtowardstheendofMuslimruleofSpainbyYusufI(13331353)andMuhammedV,SultanofGranada
(13531391),theAlhambraisareflectionofthecultureofthelastcenturiesoftheMoorishruleofAlAndalus,
reducedtotheNasridEmirateofGranada.Itisaplacewhereartistsandintellectualshadtakenrefugeasthe
ReconquistabySpanishChristianswonvictoriesoverAlAndalus.TheAlhambraintegratesnaturalsitequalities
withconstructedstructuresandgardens,andisatestamenttoMoorishcultureinSpainandtheskillsofMuslim,
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Jewish,andChristianartisans,craftsmen,andbuildersoftheirera.TheliteraltranslationofAlhambra,"thered
(female),"reflectsthecoloroftheredclayofthesurroundingsofwhichthefortismade.Thebuildingsofthe
Alhambrawereoriginallywhitewashedhowever,thebuildingsasseentodayarereddish.Anotherpossibleorigin
ofthenameisthetribaldesignationoftheNasridDynasty,knownastheBanualAhmarArabic:SonsoftheRed
(male),asubtribeoftheQahtaniteBanuKhazrajtribe.OneoftheearlyNasridancestorswasnicknamedYusufAl
Ahmar(YusuftheRed)andhencethe(Nasrid)fractionoftheBanuKhazrajtookupthenameofBanualAhmar.
ThefirstreferencetotheQalatalamrawasduringthebattlesbetween
theArabsandtheMuladies(peopleofmixedArabandEuropeandescent)
duringtheruleoftheAbdullahibnMuhammad(r.888912).Inone
particularlyfierceandbloodyskirmish,theMuladiessoundlydefeatedthe
Arabs,whowerethenforcedtotakeshelterinaprimitiveredcastlelocated
intheprovinceofElvira,presentlylocatedinGranada.Accordingto
survivingdocumentsfromtheera,theredcastlewasquitesmall,andits
wallswerenotcapableofdeterringanarmyintentonconquering.The
castlewasthenlargelyignoreduntiltheeleventhcentury,whenitsruins
wererenovatedandrebuiltbySamuelibnNaghrela,viziertotheemir
BadisbenHabusoftheZiridDynastyofAlAndalus,inanattemptto
preservethesmallJewishsettlementalsolocatedonthenaturalplateau,
SabikahHill.

DetailofIslamiccalligraphyin
MexuarHall:"Godistheonly
Victor"

IbnNasr,thefounderoftheNasridDynasty,wasforcedtofleetoJantoavoidpersecutionbyKingFerdinandIII
ofCastileandtheReconquistasupportersworkingtoendSpain'sMoorishrule.AfterretreatingtoGranada,Ibn
NasrtookupresidenceatthePalaceofBadisbenHabusintheAlhambra.Afewmonthslater,heembarkedonthe
constructionofanewAlhambrafitfortheresidenceofasultan.AccordingtoanArabmanuscriptsincepublished
astheAnnimodeGranadayCopenhague,
Thisyear,1238AbdallahibnalAhmarclimbedtotheplacecalled"theAlhambra"inspectedit,laid
outthefoundationsofacastleandleftsomeoneinchargeofitsconstruction...
Thedesignincludedplansforsixpalaces,fiveofwhichweregroupedinthenortheastquadrantformingaroyal
quarter,twocircuittowers,andnumerousbathhouses.DuringthereignoftheNasridDynasty,theAlhambrawas
transformedintoapalatinecity,completewithanirrigationsystemcomposedofacequiasforthegardensofthe
Generalifelocatedoutsidethefortress.Previously,theoldAlhambrastructurehadbeendependentuponrainwater
collectedfromacisternandfromwhatcouldbebroughtupfromtheAlbaicn.ThecreationoftheSultan'sCanal
solidifiedtheidentityoftheAlhambraasapalacecityratherthanadefensiveandasceticstructure.
TheMuslimrulerMuhammadXIIofGranadasurrenderedtheEmirateofGranadain1492withouttheAlhambra
itselfbeingattackedwhentheforcesoftheReyesCatlicos,KingFerdinandIIofAragonandQueenIsabellaIof
Castile,tookthesurroundingterritorywithaforceofoverwhelmingnumbers.

Overview
TheAlhambraresemblesmanymedievalChristianstrongholdsinitsthreefoldarrangementasacastle,apalace
andaresidentialannexforsubordinates.Thealcazabaorcitadel,itsoldestpart,isbuiltontheisolatedand
precipitousforelandwhichterminatestheplateauonthenorthwest.Allthatremainsareitsmassiveouterwalls,
towersandramparts.Onitswatchtower,the25m(85ft)highTorredelaVela,theflagofFerdinandandIsabella
wasfirstraisedasasymboloftheSpanishconquestofGranadaon2January1492.[3]Aturretcontainingalarge
bellwasaddedinthe18thcenturyandrestoredafterbeingdamagedbylightningin1881.BeyondtheAlcazabais
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thepalaceoftheMoorishrulers,TheNasridPalacesorAlhambraproper,and
beyondthisistheAlhambraAlta(UpperAlhambra),originallyoccupiedby
officialsandcourtiers.
AccessfromthecitytotheAlhambraParkisaffordedbythePuertadelas
Granadas(GateofPomegranates),atriumphalarchdatingfromthe15thcentury.
AsteepascentleadspastthePillarofCharlesV,afountainerectedin1554,tothe
mainentranceoftheAlhambra.ThisisthePuertadelaJusticia(Gateof
Judgment),amassivehorseshoearchwaysurmountedbyasquaretowerandused
bytheMoorsasaninformalcourtofjustice.ThehandofFatima,withfingers
outstretchedasatalismanagainsttheevileye,iscarvedabovethisgateonthe
exteriorakey,thesymbolofauthority,occupiesthecorrespondingplaceonthe
interior.AnarrowpassageleadsinwardtothePlazadelosAljibes(Placeofthe
Cisterns),abroadopenspacewhichdividestheAlcazabafromtheMoorishpalace.
TotheleftofthepassagerisestheTorredelVino(WineTower),builtin1345and
usedinthe16thcenturyasacellar.OntherightisthepalaceofCharlesV,a
smallerRenaissancebuilding,toconstructwhichpartoftheAlhambra,including
theoriginalmainentrance,wastorndown.

Royalcomplex
TheRoyalComplexconsistsofthreemainparts:Mexuar,Serallo,andthe
Harem.TheMexuarismodestindecorandhousesthefunctionalareasfor
conductingbusinessandadministration.Strapworkisusedtodecoratethe
surfacesinMexuar.Theceilings,floors,andtrimaremadeofdarkwood
andareinsharpcontrasttowhite,plasterwalls.Serallo,builtduringthe
reignofYusufIinthe14thcentury,containsthePatiodelosArrayanes
(CourtoftheMyrtles).Brightlycoloredinteriorsfeatureddadopanels,
yesera,azulejo,cedar,andartesonado.Artesonadoarehighlydecorative
ceilingsandotherwoodwork.Lastly,theHaremisalsoelaborately
decoratedandcontainsthelivingquartersforthewivesandmistressesof
theBerbermonarchs.Thisareacontainsabathroomwithrunningwater
(coldandhot),baths,andpressurizedwaterforshowering.Thebathrooms
wereopentotheelementsinordertoallowinlightandair.

TheTowerofJustice(Puerta
delaJusticia)istheoriginal
entrancegatetothe
Alhambra,builtbyYusufI
in1348.

WestsideofPalaceofCharlesVin
theAlhambra

CourtoftheMyrtles
ThepresententrancetothePalaciorabe,orCasaReal(Moorishpalace),isbyasmalldoorfromwhicha
corridorconnectstothePatiodelosArrayanes(CourtoftheMyrtles),alsocalledthePatiodelaAlberca(Court
oftheBlessingorCourtofthePond),fromtheArabicbirka,"pool".Thebirkahelpedtocoolthepalaceandacted
asasymbolofpower.Becausewaterwasusuallyinshortsupply,thetechnologyrequiredtokeepthesepoolsfull
wasexpensiveanddifficult.Thiscourtis42m(140ft)longby22m(74ft)broad,andinthecentrethereisalarge
pondsetinthemarblepavement,fullofgoldfish,andwithmyrtlesgrowingalongitssides.Therearegallerieson
thenorthandsouthsidesthesoutherngalleryis7m(23ft)highandsupportedbyamarblecolonnade.
Underneathit,totheright,wastheprincipalentrance,andoveritarethreewindowswitharchesandminiature
pillars.Fromthiscourt,thewallsoftheTorredeComaresareseenrisingovertherooftothenorthandreflectedin
thepond.[9]

HalloftheAmbassadors
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TheSalndelosEmbajadores(HalloftheAmbassadors)isthelargestroomintheAlhambraandoccupiesallthe
TorredeComares.Itisasquareroom,thesidesbeing12m(37ft)inlength,whilethecentreofthedomeis23m
(75ft)high.Thiswasthegrandreceptionroom,andthethroneofthesultanwasplacedoppositetheentrance.The
grandhallprojectsfromthewallsofthepalace,providingviewsinthreedirections.Inthissense,itwasa
"mirador"fromwhichthepalace'sinhabitantscouldgazeoutwardtothesurroundinglandscape.[10]Itwasinthis
settingthatChristopherColumbusreceivedIsabelandFerdinand'ssupporttosailtotheNewWorld.Thetilesare
nearly4ft(1.2m)highallround,andthecoloursvaryatintervals.Overthemisaseriesofovalmedallionswith
inscriptions,interwovenwithflowersandleaves.Thereareninewindows,threeoneachfacade,andtheceilingis
decoratedwithwhite,blueandgoldinlaysintheshapeofcircles,crownsandstars.Thewallsarecoveredwith
variedstuccoworks,surroundingmanyancientescutcheons.[9]

CourtoftheLionsandfountain
TheCourtoftheLions(PatiodelosLeones)isanoblongcourtyard,116ft
(35m)inlengthby66ft(20m)inwidth,surroundedbyalowgallery
supportedon124whitemarblecolumns.Apavilionprojectsintothecourt
ateachextremity,withfiligreewallsandalightdomedroof.Thesquareis
pavedwithcolouredtilesandthecolonnadewithwhitemarble,whilethe
wallsarecovered5ft(1.5m)upfromthegroundwithblueandyellow
tiles,withaborderaboveandbelowofenamelledblueandgold.The
columnssupportingtheroofandgalleryareirregularlyplaced.Theyare
adornedbyvarietiesoffoliage,etc.abouteacharchthereisalargesquare
ofstuccoarabesquesandoverthepillarsisanotherstuccosquareof
filigreework.
FountainofLions

TheCourtoftheLions,aexampleof
IslamicMoorisharchitectureand
gardendesign

InthecentreofthecourtistheFountainofLions,analabasterbasinsupportedbythefiguresoftwelvelionsin
whitemarble,notdesignedwithsculpturalaccuracybutassymbolsofstrength,power,andsovereignty.Eachhour
onelionwouldproducewaterfromitsmouth.[11]AttheedgeofthegreatfountainthereisapoemwrittenbyIbn
Zamrak.Thispraisesthebeautyofthefountainandthepowerofthelions,butitalsodescribestheiringenious
hydraulicsystemsandhowtheyactuallyworked,whichbaffledallthosewhosawthem.[12]

HalloftheAbencerrajes
TheSaladelosAbencerrajes(HalloftheAbencerrages)derivesitsname
fromalegendaccordingtowhichthefatherofBoabdil,thelastsultanof
Granada,havinginvitedthechiefsofthatlinetoabanquet,massacredthem
here.Thisroomisaperfectsquare,withaloftydomeandtrellised
windowsatitsbase.Theroofisdecoratedinblue,brown,redandgold,and
thecolumnssupportingitspringoutintothearchforminaremarkably
beautifulmanner.OppositetothishallistheSaladelasdosHermanas
(HallofthetwoSisters),socalledfromtwowhitemarbleslabslaidaspart
ofthepavement.Theseslabsmeasure500by220cm(15by7ft).There
isafountaininthemiddleofthishall,andtheroofadome
honeycombedwithtinycells,alldifferent,andsaidtonumber5000is
anexampleofthe"stalactitevaulting"oftheMoors.

"Honeycomb,""stalactite,"or
"mocrabe"vaultingintheHallof
theAbencerrajes

Generalife
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OftheoutlyingbuildingsconnectedtotheAlhambra,theforemostininterestisthe
PalaciodeGeneralifeorGineralife(theMuslimJennatalArif,"GardenofArif,"or
"GardenoftheArchitect").Thisvilladatesfromthebeginningofthe14thcentury
buthasbeenrestoredseveraltimes.TheVilladelosMartires(Martyrs'Villa),on
thesummitofMonteMauror,commemoratesbyitsnametheChristianslaveswho
wereforcedtobuildtheAlhambraandconfinedhereinsubterraneancells.[13]The
TorresBermejas(VermilionTowers),alsoonMonteMauror,areawellpreserved
Moorishfortification,withundergroundcisterns,stables,andaccommodationfora
garrisonof200men.SeveralRomantombswerediscoveredin1829and1857at
thebaseofMonteMauror.[9][13]

Otherfeatures
AmongtheotherfeaturesoftheAlhambraaretheSaladelaJusticia(Hallof
Justice),thePatiodelMexuar(CourtoftheCouncilChamber),thePatiode
Daraxa(CourtoftheVestibule),andthePeinadordelaReina(Queen'sRobing
Room),inwhichthereissimilararchitectureanddecoration.Thepalaceandthe
UpperAlhambraalsocontainbaths,rowsofbedroomsandsummerrooms,a
whisperinggalleryandlabyrinth,andvaultedsepulchres.

Fountainsandflowingwater
inthePalaciodeGeneralife

TheoriginalfurnitureofthepalaceisrepresentedbyoneofthefamousAlhambra
vases,verylargeHispanoMoresquewarevasesmadeintheSultanatetostandin
nichesaroundthepalace,famousexamplesofHispanoMoresquewaredatingfrom
the14thand15thcenturies.Theoneremaininginthepalace,fromabout1400,is
1.3m(4ft3in)highthebackgroundiswhite,andthedecorationisblue,white
andgold.[9]

Influence
Inliterature
PartsofthefollowingworksaresetintheAlhambra:

Porticoandpooloftheearly
14thcenturyPartal,inthe
AltaAlhambraofthe
complex

WashingtonIrving'sTalesoftheAlhambra.Thisisacollectionofessays,
verbalsketches,andstories.Irvinglivedinthepalacewhilewritingthebook
andwasinstrumentalinreintroducingthesitetoWesternaudiences.
SalmanRushdie'sTheMoor'sLastSigh
AminMaalouf'sLeoAfricanus,depictingthereconquestofGranadabytheCatholicMonarchs.
PhilippaGregory'sTheConstantPrincess,depictingCatalinatheInfantaofSpainasshelivedinthe
AlhambraafterherparentstookGranada.
FedericoGarciaLorca'splayDoaRositatheSpinster,mentionedbytitlecharacterDonaRositainher
song/speechtotheManolasisters.
PauloCoelho'snovelTheAlchemist
AliSmith'sTheAccidental
GeorgeBernardShaw'splayManandSuperman

Inmusic

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TheplotoftheBallethroqueentitledZade,ReineDeGrenade,bythe
FrenchBaroquecomposerJosephNicolasPancraceRoyer(c.17051755),
takesplaceattheAlhambra.Alhambrahasdirectlyinspiredmusical
compositionsasFranciscoTrrega'sfamoustremolostudyforguitar
RecuerdosDeLaAlhambra.ClaudeDebussy'spiecefortwopianos
composedin1901,Lindaraja,andtheprelude,LaPuertaDelVino,from
thesecondbookofpreludescomposedfrom1912to1913.IsaacAlbniz
wroteapianosuiteRecuerdosDeviaje,whichincludedapiececalled"En
LaAlhambra",whilehissuiteIberiacontainedapiececalled"ElAlbacin".
AlbnizalsocomposedaSuiteAlhambra,butwasuncompleted.
"EnLosJardinesDelGeneralife",thefirstmovementofManueldeFalla's
NochesEnLosJardinesDeEspaa,andotherpiecesbycomposerssuchas
RupertoChap(LosGnomosDeLaAlhambra,1891),TomsBretn,andmany
othersareincludedinastreamreferredtobyscholarsasAlhambrismo.[14][15][16]

GazellesononeoftheAlhambra
vasesmadeforthepalace

In1976,filmmakerChristopherNupenfilmedTheSongOfTheGuitaratthe
AlhambrawhichwasanhourlongprogramfeaturingthelegendarySpanish
guitarist,AndrsSegovia.BritishcomposerJulianAndersonwroteanorchestral
piece,AlhambraFantasy.
Inpopandfolkmusic,AlhambraisthesubjectoftheGhymessongofthesame
name.TherockbandTheGratefulDeadreleasedasongcalled"TerrapinStation"
onthe1977albumofthesamename.Itconsistedofaseriesofsmallcompositions
Canopywithmocrabe
pennedbyRobertHunterandputtomusicbyJerryGarciaalyricalsectionofthis
decoration(underarches)
suitewascalled"Alhambra".InSeptember2006,Canadiansinger/composer
LoreenaMcKennittperformedliveattheAlhambra.Theresultingvideorecordings
premieredonPBSandwerelaterreleasedasa3discDVD/CDsetcalledNightsFromTheAlhambra.TheBasque
popgroupMocedadesperformedasongcalled"JuntosEnLaAlhambra".AlhambraisthetitleofanEPrecording
byCanadianrockband,TheTeaParty,containingacousticversionsofafewoftheirsongs.Alhambraand
AlbaicnarementionedintheMagodeOzsongnamed"ElPaseoDeLosTristes"fromthealbumentitledGaiaII.
OnCaliforniarapperDomKennedy's2015albumByDomKennedy,thereisasongentitled"Alhambra".

Inmathematics
TheAlhambratilesareremarkableinthattheycontainnearlyall,ifnotall,
oftheseventeenmathematicallypossiblewallpapergroups.[17]Thisisa
uniqueaccomplishmentinworldarchitecture.M.C.Escher'svisitin1922
andstudyoftheMoorishuseofsymmetriesintheAlhambratilesinspired
hissubsequentworkontessellation,whichhecalled"regulardivisionsof
theplane".[18]

Infilm
TessellationslikethisinspiredM.C.
Escher'swork.

MarcelL'Herbier's1921film'ElDorado'featuresmanyscenesshotinand
aroundtheAlhambrapalace.Thiswasthefirsttimepermissionhadbeen
grantedforafilmcompanytoshootinsidetheAlhambrapalaceand
L'Herbiergaveprominentplacetoitsgardens,fountainsandgeometricarchitecturalpatterns,whichbecamesome
ofthefilm'smostmemorableimages.

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AnimatedfilmsbySpanishdirectorJuanBautistaBerasateguisuchasAhmed,ElPrincipeDeLaAlhambraandEl
EmbrujoDelSurarebasedonstoriesinWashingtonIrving'sTalesOfTheAlhambra.

Invideogames
It'samultiplayerlocationforAssassin'sCreedBrotherhood'sfinalDLC.
ThisservesasalocationfortheSpainstageinTheKingofFighters(1998).AlhambraisawonderinCivilization
V:Gods&Kings.

Inastronomy
ThereisamainbeltasteroidnamedAlhambra.

Seealso
12TreasuresofSpain
AlhambraDecree
Islamicgardens
HistoryofMedievalArabicandWesternEuropeandomes

Furtherreading
FernndezPuertas,Antonio(1997),TheAlhambra.Vol1:FromtheNinthCenturytoYusufI(1354),Saqi
Books,ISBN0863564666
FernndezPuertas,Antonio(1998),TheAlhambra.Vol2:(13541391),SaqiBooks,ISBN0863564674
FernndezPuertas,Antonio(1999),TheAlhambra.Vol3:From1391tothePresentDay,SaqiBooks,
ISBN9780863565892
Grabar,Oleg.TheAlhambra.Massachusetts:HarvardUniversityPress,1978.
Jacobs,MichaelFernndez,Francisco(2009),Alhambra,FrancesLincoln,ISBN9780711225183
Lowney,Chris.AVanishedWorld:MedievalSpainsGoldenAgeofEnlightenment.NewYork:Simon&
Schuster,Inc.,2005.
Menocal,Maria,Rosa.TheOrnamentoftheWorld.Boston:Little,BrownandCompany,2002.
Read,Jan.TheMoorsinSpainandPortugal.London:FaberandFaber,1974.
Ruggles,D.Fairchild."Alhambra,"inEncyclopaediaofIslam,thirdedition.Leiden:E.J.Brill,2008.
Ruggles,D.Fairchild.Gardens,Landscape,andVisioninthePalacesofIslamicSpain,Philadelphia:
PennsylvaniaStateUniversityPress,2000.
Ruggles,D.Fairchild.IslamicGardensandLandscapes,UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,2008.
Steves,Rick(2004).SpainandPortugal2004,pp.204205.AvalonTravelPublishing.ISBN156691529
5.
Stewart,Desmond.TheAlhambra.NewsweekPublishing,1974.ISBN0882250884.
TheWorldHeritage.IstanbulandCordoba,Vol.#15.FilmIdeas,2008.ISBN1575577151.

Notes
1.The"Al"in"Alhambra"means"the"inarabic,butthisisignoredingeneralusageinbothEnglishandSpanish,where
thenameisnormallygiventhedefinitearticle

2.Arabic:

,trans.alamrliterally"theredone",feminineincolloquialArabic:elamra

3.Arabic:

,trans.alQalatalamr,"theredfortress"

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References
1."Alhambrahistoricalintroduction".Retrieved
2January2013.
2."Alhambra,GeneralifeandAlbayzn,Granada".World
HeritageList.UNESCO.Retrieved13January2013.
3.Chisholm(1911),p.657
4.Chisholm(1911)
5.SalmernEscobar(2007)
6.SalmernEscobar(2007),III.Thematerialbase:
constructionandform
7.SalmernEscobar(2007),IV.Formationandspatial
perception
8.SalmernEscobar(2007),VI.TheAlhambrathat
survives
9.Mirmobiny,Shadieh."TheAlhambra".Smarthistoryat
KhanAcademy.Retrieved26February2013.
10.Ruggles(1992)

10.Ruggles(1992)
11.AlHassani,Woodcock&Saoud(2007)
12.AlHassani,Woodcock&Saoud(2007),p.233
13.Chisholm(1911),p.658
14."AlhambradeGranada".
15."CVC.Rinconete.Acordes".Cvc.cervantes.es.
Retrieved4April2012.
16."Elalhambrismoenlamsicaespaolahastalapoca
deManueldeFallaDialnet".Dialnet.unirioja.es.
Retrieved4April2012.
17."MathematicsinArtandArchitecture".
Math.nus.edu.sg.Retrieved4April2012.
18.Gelgi,Fatih(July2010)."TheInfluenceofIslamicArt
onM.C.Escher".TheFountain(76).

Bibliography
AlHassani,SalimT.S.Woodcock,ElizabethSaoud,Rabah(2007).1001Inventions:MuslimHeritageinourWorld
(2nded.).Manchester,UK:FoundationforScienceTechnologyandCivilisation.ISBN9780955242618.
Chisholm,Hugh,ed.(1911)."Alhambra,The".EncyclopdiaBritannica(11thed.).CambridgeUniversityPress.
Irwin,Robert(2004).TheAlhambra.Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress.
Ruggles,D.Fairchild(1992)."ThegardensoftheAlhambraandtheconceptofthegardeninIslamicSpain".InJerrilynn
Dodds.AlAndalus:TheArtsofIslamicSpain.NewYork,NY:MetropolitanMuseum.pp.163171.ISBN087099636
3.
SalmernEscobar,Pedro(2007).TheAlhambra:StructureandLandscape.LaBibliotecadelaAlhambra.Translatedby
DianaKelham.ISBN9788461181230.

Externallinks
Alhambrainturgranada.es(http://www.turgranada.es/culturalmonu
WikimediaCommonshas
mental/culturalmonumentalnivel3.php?id_seccion=509&tipo=secci
mediarelatedtoAlhambra.
ones&id_idioma=2)Officialsitefortourismoftheprovinceof
Granada.
TheAlhambrainGranada,Spain(http://www.ne.jp/asahi/arc/ind/2_meisaku/08_alhambra/alh_eng.htm)
MasterpiecesofIslamicArchitecture.
InFocus:LaAlhambra&Generalife(Granada,Spain)(http://hitchhikershandbook.com/2013/05/30/infocusl
aalhambrageneralifegranadaspain/)atHitchHikersHandbook(http://www.hitchhikershandbook.com)
OfficialwebsiteofPatronatoofAlhambraandGeneralife(http://www.alhambrapatronato.es)
PaulF.Hoye,1967,TheAlhambra(http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196703/the.alhambra.htm),
SaudiAramcoWorld
Murphy,JamesCavanah,1816,TheAlhamra(Alhambra)atGranada(http://islamicarts.org/2012/thealham
raatgranada/),islamicarts.org
AlAndalus:theartofIslamicSpain(http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15
324coll10/id/45966/rec/1),anexhibitioncatalogfromTheMetropolitanMuseumofArt(fullyavailable
onlineasPDF),whichcontainsmaterialonAlhambra(seeindex)
lexicorient.com(http://lexicorient.com/spain/alhambra.htm)
Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alhambra&oldid=720215863"
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Categories: Buildingsandstructurescompletedin1333 Alhambra(Spain) Granada

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