DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42083#0007
THE HOUSE OF EL GRECO
AT Toledo there is a wide plain bordered by the Tagus
and the Synagogue del Transito. It lies at the eastern
extremity of the former Jewish quarter and not far of frises
the graceful and beautiful tower of Santo Tomé. From
this point the ground slopes steeply. On this site a palace
was built by Simuel Levy, the Jewish favourite of Pedro I
of Castile, when in full enjoyment of his power and in-
fluence.
As the Jew’s power and wealth increased, his house
built on this steep site was enlarged. To correct the ine-
quality of the ground it was found necessary to erect a se-
ries of vaults built with the brick and on the system of the
Mudejars. Possibly in even remoter times, the Roman ru-
lers of Toledo made use of similar substructures. Possibly
the Mudejars in working for Simuel Levy adopted the style
familiar to the Romans alternately with their own system
(of which the Puerta del Sol affords such admirable exam-
ples). But this can be nothing more than a conjecture ba-
sed only on an examination of the remains of the edifice.
According to a not improbable tradition it was in these
vaults that Simuel Levy stored his wealth and merchan-