Alhambra Palace

1. Time: 1238-1527
2. Location: Granada, Andalúia, Spain

The kingdom of Granada belongs to the Nasrid dynasty, the last stronghold of Al-Andalus, the dominance of Islam on the Iberian Peninsula forms the western edge of the medieval Muslim world. Following the decisive battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212), the important cities of Al-Andalus were conquered by Christians: Cordoba, the former capital of the Muslim king, fell in 1236 and Seville in the year 1248. Only the tiny Granada kingdom remained autonomous when the founder of the Nasrian dynasty, Muhammad I (1232-72), called himself a vassal of the King of Castile. The kingdom of Granada existed until 1492, when it was invaded by Christian kings, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. In the same year people discovered the Americas, marking the end of Spain's Reconquista period and the period of rare invasion of the New World.

Alhambra Palace seen from the South (Photo: cs.cmu.edu)

An affirmation of Islamic culture

The greatest achievement of the Nasrid dynasties is undoubtedly the Alhambra palace, which aims to promote culture, hobbies and rectify Islamic civilization. The affirmation of this trait is intimately linked to Granada's own weaknesses and perhaps for this reason, the Alhambra palace is enveloped in a nostalgic mood of being past, not rewarding and poetic. In fact, one of the most striking features is the use of poetry to decorate rooms and space, some poems composed by famous royal poets such as Ibn al-Yayyab, Ibn al-Jatib and Ibn Zamrak.

The past retrospective subject can also be seen in the architectural structure of the palace. In addition to a special reference to Islam, the palace also bears many typical shapes of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. So the Alhambra palace is not only poetic but also contains a certain knowledge of classical Greek.

Construction history

Alhambra Palace built on top of the hill overlooking the city of Granada. Famous lions, seen from one of the gate roofs in the palace. The four ditches carry the water into the middle nozzle, with 12 lions as support (Photo: classics.nd.edu) The name of the palace comes from al-Qalat al Hamra, meaning "red castle", Because of the color of bricks and soil taken from the fort before. The complex is surrounded by a protective wall and separates the palace from the city. The oldest parts of the fortress date from the 11th and 12th centuries, but Muhammad I was the one who started to build a palace as a place to live in this place. Many historical sources explained in 1238, "The Muslim king went to the palace called Alhambra, surveyed, marked the castle foundation and supervised the construction. Construction of the finished walls before the end year. He also opened a canal to bring water from the river. "

This 13th century, Alhambra is a proper concern, characterized by military construction . The first Muslim king wanted to use this palace to live in Muhammad IV (1303 - 1309), but during the reign of King Yusuf I (1333 - 1354) the interior of some towers in the Alhambra was vividly decorated according to the preferences of the house. king. This period decorated Torre de Comares (Tower Comares) and Torre de la Cautiva (captive tower), inside the Tower of the Detachment can find poems inscribed by poet Ibn al-Yayyab (1274 - 1349). works to praise the work of Yusuf I.

The Alhambra palace was the most prosperous under King Muhammad V, ruling from 1354 to 1359 and the second time from 1362 to 1391, his reign was divided due to internal discord which is common in the calendar. use Granada. He himself built the Palacio de los Leones (Lion Palace), surrounded the yard with the same name as Patio de los Arrayanes (Hoa Mua yard) and many other areas of Palacio de Comares.

Design and organization

Actual data:

1. Hoa Mua floor: 36.6 x 23.4m
2. Sala de Comares: 11.3 x 11.3 m
3. Height: 18,22m
4. Lion yard: 28.5 x 15.7m

Decorative wall motifs carved on unpainted mortar.
(Photo: home.cs.utwente.nl)

There is no direct reference to the construction process, so there is no information about the architect who built the palace in the Nasrid dynasty, skilled workers involved or even the cost. build. Alhambra Palace is an anonymous project. There is also no accurate information about daily activities in the palace or even the original name of the room and the hall. Due to the lack of detailed documentation, the dating of many different parts of the Alhambra palace can only be confirmed by using hypothesis and superficial judgment.

The construction of the palace complex is mainly built with bricks, along with concrete and cement. Stone touches use relatively little, limited use granite is mostly used for lining roads and pillars and pillars. Decoration covers walls, ceilings and floors, mostly made of wood, ceramics and plaster. An excellent illustration of the wood carving stage is the ceiling of Sala de Comares or Sala de Embajadores (the Chamber of the Apostles).

Generalife Palace: Park, with a central waterway and nozzle, buy flowers, citrus, cypress, rose and other flowers (Photo: travelaboutinc)

Multi-color ceramic tile filled many interior and exterior spaces, geometric composition of tile with all reflections and glare color. But the most impressive feature of the Alhambra palace is the unpolished mortar, adorned with plant motifs and carvings, not smooth plastering applied when making beautiful muqarnas ceilings in Sala de las Dos Hermanas (Twin sister room) and Sala de los Abencerrajes .

In the walled area of ​​the Alhambra palace there are 3 separate parts: Alcazaba, located on the highest point, used for rigorous military purposes, Medina and palace. There were up to seven palaces, but only the remaining two palaces showed the best of the Sultan's Palace of Alhambra: Palacio de Comares and Palacio de los Leones. The pitch forms an important order element, the water in the shape of the tanks and nozzles also plays an important role.

The patio of Palacio de Comares (Patio de los Arrayanes) is rectangular, cut right away by a reservoir running along the North-South direction. Much more complex and sophisticated is Patio de los Leones, in the palace with the same name. This yard is surrounded by a gate with a total of 124 diamond columns, gathered around the famous Lion Nozzle. The cross-shaped structure is emphasized by running water troughs as well as 4 surrounding rooms along vertical and horizontal axes.

Near Alhambra, but outside the wall, is the Generalife palace, like a holiday villa, built by Muhammad II (1272-1302), and famous for the park, reflecting faithfully its characteristics Best picture of Islamic-style park design.

History later

(Image: nmhschool) Most of the 15th century, from Muhammad V's reign until Christians invaded, Alhambra palace largely retained its 14th century appearance , with no changes. significant. Then from 1492 onwards, Spanish authorities began a series of political developments that symbolically represented Granada. Emperor Charles V even printed his trail on the wall of the Alhambra palace. His important work was his palace, designed by architect Pedro Machuca (1527): a classic work with squid decoration and geometric layout (a circle inside the square ) symbolizes a deliberate contrast between Islamic and Christian styles. Charles V did not live in the palace, however, after his reign, no other buildings were built. Next is just restoration and maintenance as well as destruction.

It is the romanticists, and the British artists in particular, who discovered the palace and made the western world notice in the 19th century, idealizing and turning the palace into a magical place. voice, imbued with externality and sensual pleasures. This image is reflected in the art of David Robert and John Frederick Lewis as well as in the writings reminiscent of Chateaubriand, Théophile Gautier and most of all, Washington Irving in "The Quest of Granada" (1829) and "Tales of the Alhambra " (1832). Another significant contribution to the revival of Islamic art is Owen Jones's work in Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra (1842 - 1845). Since the 19th century, Alhambra palace has become a popular tourist attraction. In 1984, both Alhambra and Generalife were included in Unesco's World Cultural Heritage book.

Alhambra's wonders do not lie in immortality, grandeur or richness, nor are the palaces of any style unified, after construction, destruction and rebuilding during periods different. Instead, Alhambra's charm is primarily an extraordinary decoration and above all in the balance and insight that nature and architecture bring together . Everywhere in the palace, water and plants play a harmonious and positive role.