Construction of the Alhambra began during the beginning of the Nasrid Dynasty. It was founded by a man known as Muḥammad ibn al-Aḥmar in 1232 CE and marks the last of Islamic rule in Spain. The era experienced a series of attempts from the Christians to reconquer the land, which caused the Alhambra to be first and foremost, a fortress. The massive establishment is divided into militaristic and administrative quarters with many lookout posts and a large wall surrounding its entirety. Separate areas were designated for elite members of the dynasty. These royal quarters are surrounded by luxurious gardens that are said to have been inspired by an image of paradise. In contrast to the plain wall that encloses the palace, nearly every inch within Alhambra is decorated with elaborately carved patterns. In accordance with Islamic ways, the palace bears no carvings of people.
Over the years, the Alhambra experienced numerous additions of royal quarters. The Torre de las Infantas, Tower of the Princesses, is believed to have been one of the last additions to the palace under Nasrid rule. The tower is thought to be where Muḥammad ibn al-Aḥmar’s daughter lived, and although a majority of the palace is open to the public today, her tower is not. Another aspect of the Alhambra I found interesting is the Hall of the Two Sisters. It is
not named after people, but rather after two massive white marble slabs laid in the floor. Although, the most magnificent aspect of the Hall of the Two Sisters is its honeycombed ceiling which is pictured at right. The ceiling is compiled of five thousand honeycomb cells, and it is thought to be the most intricate work of its kind from the Islamic world. When the Christians took over Granada in 1492, they burned nearly eighty thousand books, destroying the written legacy of Islamic presence in the region. However, they could not rid of the impact Islam had on Europe, nor would they probably choose to do so. The Muslim people brought mathematics, philosophy, poetry, advanced architecture, and intricate irrigation and sewage systems to the region. In fact, such contributions to Europe during the Dark Ages helped revive the region. While the Muslims were willing to share their knowledge and wisdom with Europe, most of the area is still hesitant today to recognize that it is Islamic culture at the base of much of their history. It is unfortunate that most of the world has forgotten the significance of the history of the Islamic people, and the events that unfold in our modern world are only pushing such important history further into the background.
Sources: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/dome-sweet-dome-the-alhambra-palace-in-granada-spain-426585.html http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?ArticleID=891 http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/desidna/prog01alhambra.shtml http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/223838.stm
Southern Spain was one of the most diverse and vital areas of the world during the Middle Ages. The architectural beauty of the Alhambra testifies to this. It is unfortunate that so much was destroyed when the Christians expelled the Moors from Spain.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that though these places were built for religious purposes, they were built with military minds. People were always prepared for battle.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the Two Sisters that you put one here, amazing! It is so breathtakingly beautiful, it makes you realize how boring our architecture is today.