Charlotte Wisse
Ms. Drake
World History Period 2
November 9, 2018
The Unique Architecture of the Alhambra
There are many architectural features of the Alhambra that make it unique to its time and even today. It is referred to as a Moorish Citadel (Alhambra, Moorish Citadel). Moorish is defined as “of relating to or being a style of Spanish architecture of the eight to sixteenth century including horseshoe arches and ornate decoration” (Moorish). A citadel being defined as “a fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city” (Citadel). Both of these descriptions are true for the Alhambra. It is the only domestic building that resembles a palace that was kept from the first thousand years of Islam (Moorish Art and Architecture), and the spread of Islam to southern Spain which agrees with the Moorish definition and it is in Granada, Spain on a mountaintop, overlooking the city which agrees with the citadel definition.
There is a lot of background that goes into making the Alhambra what it is today. It had many ups and downs and many of the people that started building it, did not get to see the finished product, in fact, it is still being restored to this day. First the who. It was built mostly by the Nasrid Dynasty that was the last Muslim Dynasty in Spain. More specifically, Muhammad I created the idea and the aqueduct which would play a big role in the many special features of the Alhambra. He built the aqueduct from a river nearby called Darro. Next was Muhammad II, he built the enclosing walls of the Alhambra. He passed his job of to a man names Yusef I. Yusef I fortified, expanded, and most importantly decorated the Alhambra. He created many of the features still standing today including; the Tower of Women, the Court of Myrtles, and the Gate of Justice. Finally, Muhammad V, built the famous Court of Lions (Hillenbrand). Most of these buildings were made between 1230 and 1354. But then came the expulsion of the Moors from Spain in 1492. The Christians came in and took over all of the land that the Muslims had ruled before. This was called the Christian Reconquest. When they found the Alhambra, they started to renovate it to become more like the architecture that they were used to (Moorish Art and Architecture). They did this for a short amount of time but then they mostly neglected it. That is how it got to the tragic state that it was in when the successors of the Nasrid Dynasty restored and are still restoring it today.
The Alhambra was a very unique building, including many features that set it apart from others. When the Nasrid Dynasty was designing the Alhambra, they tried to focus on contrast and variety. They also tried to avoid any symmetry in the architecture. Some of the obvious examples of symmetry in the Alhambra are open versus closed, light versus dark, used versus empty spaces, and private versus public spaces. The variety aspect is shown in the many different rooms and designs in those rooms. There are many rooms but they are split into three main sections that are still standing today. A citadel, palace complex, and a private section for the Sultan and his wives. There is another building called Generalife or Jannat al-arifa in Arabic, Jannat meaning “paradise or garden/ place of cultivation (The Alhambra, Khan Academy). It is one of the preserved Nasrid estates. Back in the main building, most of the buildings are surrounding an open air courtyards including the Lion and Myrtles courtyards. The Court of the Lions is a central fountain with twelve lions made of marble. There are also 124 thin columns that surround the courtyard itself. Another one of the courtyards is the Court of the Myrtles. The court of the Myrtles is a large courtyard made of marble with a pool running down the center. There are also alabaster stone columns and along the sides jasper, a type of quartz. The Hall of Ambassadors was used as a type of throne room with the ceiling as a key feature. It is decorated with stars, circles, and crowns which are all in reference to the picture of heaven stated in the Qur’an. Finally, the Hall of Two Sisters is known for its dome that looks as if it is moving relating as well to the “revolving heavens” talked about in the Qur’an. Some of the more specific features like the “honeycomb” details and stalactite vaulting (Moorish Art and Architecture). The ceiling and the walls are decorated with detailed designs with a geometric base. There are also Arabic messages written on the wall that are prayers and personal reflections.
All of the features that the Alhambra includes in it are done with a skill that is unmatched by many. These skills include many different types of designs including, marblework, alabaster, glazed tile, carved plaster (Moorish Art and Architecture). The people who constructed the Alhambra were the ones that excelled in these and makes the building so special. All of the different features of the Alhambra are a testament to the many ways that the Muslim rule effected the daily lives of the people that lived in Granada and most of Southern Spain. These features are what makes this landmark the number one recommendation for tourists in Spain (Naldo).
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