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Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1
North Gallery of Comares built by Yusef 1
Patio de los Arrayanes Water Mirror
Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1
La Casa Real Vieja or The Royal Old PalacesThe Alhambra Palaces built by the Nazrid dynasty were: Mexuar, Comares and Leones. Carlos V's Palace is known the Casa Real Nueva. Spain suffered enormously during the reclamation of Spanish soil. The Catholic kings, Isabel and Fernando had no "permanent royal residence." The Spanish court moved into the Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1 Palaces. Quick Chapter Jumps:
Alhambra Devastation and Destruction
Palacio de Comares
THE Palace of the Alhambra
Alhambra Details
Reconquista Debasement
What Saved the Alhambra?
Washington Irving and the Alhambra
Palacio de los Leones
Famed Fountain of the Twelve Lions
The Twelve Lions
Mexuar Palace
Architectural Expression of the Alhambra
Experts refer to seven royal Alhambra palaces.
Carlos V was not comfortable in the Alhambra - or in the Generalife.He ordered to destroy many Alhambra structures - to make room for his palace. His son Philip V committed further destruction by cutting off views and sectioning areas to Italianise rooms. Luckily, he abandoned the project and built his own the Escorial palace instead. The Alhambra was abandoned to its fate in the 18th century and even endured an earthquake in 1821.
Highlight of the Alhambra The Nazrid Palaces: Alhambra Granada Palaces Gems
Comares Palace: The King's Residence
Patio de los Leones Palace: The Palace of the Harem
Mexuar Palace: Justice Courts of the Nazrid Emirate
Reality Viewing Sequential Order:
(1)Mexuar Palace,
(2)Comares Palace
(3)Patio de los Leones Palace
(however, internal patterns, change frequently, owing to restoration projects) This page: Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1 - has categorized -
the importance of each royal palace Patio de los ArrayanesAfter passing through the Mexuar palace, the first thing Ambassadors and Diplomats would have seen would have been the water mirrors of Comares palace, (parallel myrtle hedges defining the patio as: Patio de los Arrayanes.) Moorish Floating PalacesStanding in the middle of the courtyard is where the double reflections meet. This has the effect of a "Floating Palace." Reflecting pools were allegories of reality and spirituality - the seen and the unseen. 
Comares south gallery
built by Mohammed V The exterior struture is cuboid, austere and belies nothing of the architectural glories - within.
Hall of Ambassadors Nazrid Dynasty Throne RoomStunningly elaborate gold leafed stuccowork, topped with exquisite caligraphy decorate the heavy walls that support a forty-five metre-high dome. The hall is the largest and most fabulous reception room of the Alhambra which was the: The Hall of Ambassadors. It was built by Yusuf 1, in 1310 AD.The DomeSuperb skills of Nazrid carpintry, coupled with harmonious perfection, jolts one's perception. The dome is THE focus-point of the Ambassadors Hall and the crown of the Alhambra. Breathe-taking, cedar-wood ornamentation, of 8017 marquetry pieces, represent the Seven Heavens of Islam, through a perfection of geometrical designs. The architectural expression is phenomenal: the massive Comares tower projects into a limitless universe. The EpigraphyFurther enhancing the structure, are thousands and thousands of inscriptions. Top tiered epigraphs are: (nearest to heaven) verses from the Qur'an, 2nd tier are pious poems and finally 3rd tier, (anchoring life on earth again) are praises for the Emir Yusef 1, the builders, artisans or the architects of the Alhambra - whose work was rarely, if ever, acknowledged in the Islamic world - written in varied styles, working one's way from the top downwards: Curie-form character, (which can be read, right-to-left and versa versa) and lower-down, in decorative calligraphy.Throne AreaAlthough, a throne, would have been a lavish couch, observing guests' entrance and often, incredulity, in the centre-window would have sat the Emir - while receiving diplomatic and royal visitors. The Emir was silhouetted by spectacular stained glass windows, which also had intricate geometrical patterns: reds, green and gold spilled onto a blue-and-golden tiled floor.
Historic Spanish Events- The Ambassadors Hall was where in 1492 AD Boabdil surrendered to the Catholic Kings
- The Ambassadors Hall was where Christopher Columbus met with the Catholic Kings in a royal consultation about travelling to the Indies; but discovered America instead.
EtymologyComares stems from the Arabic word qamariyya: stained glass windows. Sundazzled guests would be ushered in through the Sala de la Barca (constructed by Mohammed V in the 14th century) and then into the Hall of Ambassadors.
(Drawing a parallel of exterior enchantment, followed by a eye-pause, leading into a magnificent hall - similar to the protocol of the Salon Rico in Madinat az-Zahra.) Barca etymology has various answers.
Baraka (the Arab word) = "Blessing" is written ALL over the entrance hall's walls.
Barca in Spanish means boat
Possibly, the word "Baraka" - its meaning - was switched through (habitual) bad phoenetic practise or the original ceiling-shape (which was similar to a boat's keel) was ruined during a fire in 1890 AD EtiquetteBearing in mind, how exquisite chivalry and an extreme fondness for poetic expression, both of which the Moors were masters in: Divine Blessing - may have been a polite greeting to visitors - meeting with the Emir.About the Alhambra Colour Decor SignificanceThe colours of the stained-glass windows are frequently repeated throughout the Alhambra on walls: ceilings, vases, wainscoatings and floor tiles.
They have a symbolic Qur'anic significance:
red - blood
blue - heaven
green - fertile oasis
gold - wealth
Alcove Patio de los Arrayanes
Fresh cool water was always left in these alcoves for the visiting guests
Does this look familiar?
Yes, it is our site's Look and Feel
The symbols represent water
They originate from the wainscoating of the Arrayanes water alcove 
The entire Ambassadors Hall - and most of the Alhambra - was gilded or painted in the bright colours of the stained glass windows. Sadly, as soon as the Reconquista was completed, the Catholic kings ordered to efface or destroy the gilding, the colourwork and all the Moorish furniture in the Alhambra, to devalue the Spanish-Arab monument. Whitewash was purposely sloshed over the stuccowork, clogging-up the detailed engravings.
It is amazing that what is seen today, is as beautiful and remarkable, as it is.
Patio del Mexuar In 1812 AD Napoleonic troops used the Alhambra as barracks. In fact, the French repaired some of the vandalism wrought (under the orders of the Catholic kings Fernando and Isabella) while they stayed in Spain, the French valued and cared for the Alhambra. Only when the French had to retreat, then, they wired the Alhambra to blow the whole place up. According to legend: it was a forsaken, wounded French solidier, who luckily, removed the fuses in time and saved the complex from complete devastation, though the Torre de Siete Suelos: Tower of Seven Floors and the Torre del Agua: Water Tower were dynamited and damaged. 
Comares
Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1 Washington Irving, traveled to Spain in the 1820's and stayed at the Alhambra. At that time the monument was almost destroyed; bandits inhabited part of it. Washington Irving was fascinated with the Islamic complex.
The Alhambra history and its legends were not a theme any romantic writer could ignore. Washington Irving's "The Tales of the Alhambra" published in 1832, generated an enormous public interest from this bestseller - and along with work by Richard Ford - that interest saved the Alhambra from total extinction.
Where Washington Irving stayed and wrote The Tales of the Alhambra
In 1870 AD the Alhambra was declared a National Monument and a massive amount of restoration began on the historic complex.
Artistic Expression in Architecture Forced travel created a unique opportunity for Mohammed V. While in exhile, he visited Fez and Sevilla. The local architecture served as an inspiration-point for Mohammed V. He garnered a sway of Moorish, Mudejar and Roman ideas along with many Christian Architectural influences. Mohammed V gained a friend in Pedro 1 of Castille and finally, Mohammed V regained his own kingdom, with the aid of Pedro 1. The Nazrid style of the Court of Lions Palace The Palacio de Leones (and the Cuarto Dorado) of the Mexuar palace were conceived in the innovative Nazrid style by Mohammed V.Courtyard of the Palacio de LeonesThe Courtyard is oblong: (width) 30mts x (length) 20 mts.
124, amazingly svelte, irregularly spaced, white marble columns support a low-slung gallery which borders the courtyard.
The columns represent Palm Trees of a Dessert Oasis. Elegant arches create the palm fronds which sweep between the marble columns.Two equally ornated pavillions oppose each-other.
Their decor: exquisite see-through filigree and domed roofs.
The fountain and the quadripartite divisions represents the Chahah-Bagh of Moorish water gardens, whose expression signifies: "Paradise on Earth." Chahar-Bagh Design and EtymologyChahar: four
Bagh: gardenA centre-fountain ("the source of all life") would have four paths leading outwards (towards heaven) from it. Each path represented One of the Four Rivers of Life. - Gihon
- Euphrates
- Pisho
- Tigres
The garden patio thus was divided into four separate garden areas (the four seasons, or the four directions): each section symbolized the mortal delights or fruits of Earthly Paradise: Wine, Milk, Honey and Water. Cooling EffectsThe family area (or harem) was the Palacio de los Leones. The water channels of the patio, acted, to constantly refresh the courtyard, through constant evaporation. Furthermore, an enclosed patio, was yet another analogy of the dessert oasis. Its locus encouraged quiet contemplation. Apart from affording privacy, that enclosed area was shady - half of the day - on one side or, on the other side. High pavillions or tents, set in the East and the West were referred to in the Qur'an - belonging under the illustration of Paradise. The family would have lain on rugs beneath the pavillions' shade during the hours of utmost heat.
The Chahar Bagh design of the Patio de los Leones
No lions, apologies. They are being renovated.
Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1
"Lions" - in Islam, were not a decorative figure that was permitted. However, the detailed carving of the lions, reveals, that another religion must have created them. Quite possibly, their source comes from the first palace built on the Alhambra plateau, which was constructed by the Jewish vizier: Samuel ibn-Nagrela.That palace was demolished by an angry Moorish Mob in 1066 AD Alhambra Granada Spain. Possible Ancient Symbolism of the LionsProfessor Manzano believes that the twelve lions, (could date from the 10th century BC) - a lion spouting water from its mouth - symbolizes: the sun. Water and sunlight create life. The sons of the desert zealously studied astronomy: it was the stars that guided their safe-passage through the desert. The Spanish Moors inherited the same enthusiasm for astronomy, astrology and mathematics, all of which helped to calculate exact distances. The lions of the Patio de Leones could have represented (solar planets) i.e.: the twelve signs of the zodiac. Professor Manzano connects a direct analogy of the Alhambra lions - to the twelve iron bulls of Solomon's Temple, in Jerusalem, Israel. The lions support a basin which overflows with water: the sea - the heavenly seas. However, the lion fountains, served to supply water to the rest of the palaces; deriving their supply from the intricate Alhambra Granada Spain Water Technology.
Emir Ismael 1, initiated the construction of The Public Court of Justice. Both Yusef 1 and Mohammed V reformed it.
Mexuar etymology: Maswar Where the Emir dispensed justice. The Counsel of Minsters assembled in the Mexuar.The Mexuar and Oratory halls were subjected to many reforms by both Arabs and Christians. Carlos V transformed the Mexuar Court of Justice into a Christian chapel.  Entrace to Mexuar
Four central columns once supported a dome in the Royal Tribunal area
Judge's entrance to the Justice Court leading from the Patio del Mexuar
Mexuar Tilework Motifs15th century wainscoating tiling, in the Mexuar Hall of Justice has al-Andalusi and Christian motifs incorporated:
the Pillars of Hercules,
Nazrid Dynasty Coat of Arms
Heraldic Austrian Eagle.
Each motif, was tucked neatly in the centre of the geometrical design.
Alhambra tiles were perfect geometrical designs with mystical interpretations of infinity. Islamic patterns, in every form: music, art or poetry - always repetitive. Christian DetailsThe crown above the door was stuck there by the Christians. In fact the crown belongs above the Spanish "Plus Ultra motto."
The Alhambra was composed of a myriad of detailed and perfect symbols. Islamic architecture symbolised that what man created in this lifetime, this was what he would find in the next world. The Alhambra's Chahar bagh "water expression" reflected heaven on earth.Climate ExpressionAndalucia, Spain, has a similar climate to Damascus, Syria and to Fez, in Morroco. Ancestral desert lifestyle was reflected throughout the Alhambra. Precious water: is a centrepiece expression of the Alhambra Palaces and Gardens. Whispers of red, blue, green and golden tones are the colour-tapisteries of the Alhambra Palaces, conjuring, shade from torrid Andalusian summers. Alhambra decor was cleverly wrapped over its construction elements - revealing an unparalled sybaritic elegance - all of which created the harmonious lines of the Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1.
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