DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7431#0023
A DESCRIPTION OF THE
are, and support on their backs an alabaster bason richly carved
and ornamented, out of which rises a smaller bason. While
the pipes were kept in good order, a great volume of water
was thrown up from the latter; which fell clown into the
larger bason, and, passing through the lions, issued out of
their mouths into the large reservoir, which was of black
marble, thus forming a perpetual and refreshing cascade.
From this reservoir, the limpid stream was diffused by means
of marble channels through various apartments, and supplied
the jets d'eau which were constantly playing there. This
noble fountain is supposed to have been executed in imitation
of the brazen sea, placed by King Solomon in the Temple at
Jerusalem. Some of the stucco-work in this court, as well
as in the Pateo del Agua, is a modern and very inferior imi-
tation of the Arabic, being coarse and dirty, and is rapidly
mouldering to decay. The ancient work, on the contrary,
which is out of the reach of hands, is beautifully white, clean,
and sharp. Not a single spider's web, or insect of any kind,
could the author discover in any part of the court; while the
stucco work, executed by order of later kings, was covered
with cobwebs in various parts. The wooden work of the
Arabs also continues free from worms and insects of every
kind.
PLATE XXXV.
plan of the bason of the fountain of lions.
The form of this noble reservoir is a dodecagon : the inscrip-
tion around it is executed in elegant characters, and is engraved
at length in Plates LXXXIII. and LXXXIV. infra. It is
also given in modern Arabic characters, accompanied with a
literal translation by Professor Shakespear, in the " History
of the Mahometan Empire in Spain" Appendix, No. 2.
Many of the characters are much defaced by the injuries of
time.
PLATE xxxvi.
side elevation of the lions' court and fountain.
This plate exhibits a correct view of the proportions of the
Lions' Court, together with a section of the Fountain itself.
The clumsy shape of the lions presents a striking contrast to
the general harmony that pervades the fountain. The mosaic
ornaments in this plate are delineated at large, in Plates L.
and LI. infra.
PLATE XXXVII.
entablature in the court of the lions.
A careful examination of this engraving will convey a more
precise idea than any description can possibly give, of the
ALHAMRA AT GRANADA. 13
exquisite taste and skill displayed in the ornaments ; which
are scattered in such rich profusion throughout the superb
court and fountain already delineated. It will, therefore,
suffice to observe, that these ornaments are here given in their
full size; and that the height, from the bottom of the archi-
trave (with the inscription) to the bottom of the rafters, is
exactly two feet nine inches and a half, of English measure-
ment.
PLATE XXXVIII.
hall of the two sisters.
From the Lions' Court we pass into the Sala de dos Hermanas
or Hall of the Two Sisters, so called from two large and sin-
gularly beautiful pieces of marble, which form part of the
pavement, and are to be seen on either side of the fountain.
They measure fifteen feet in length by seven and a half in
breadth, and are entirely free from flaw or stain. The eye is
lost in contemplating the rich assemblage of ornaments, which
appear in every part of this noble hall.
From the pavement to the beginning of the arches., the walls
are decorated with elegant mosaic : the pamiels between the
arches are filled with a very delicate ornament, which at a
little distance has the appearance of a plain mass; and the
ceiling, which is carefully preserved from the injuries of the
weather, is composed of stalactites in stucco, and is finished
in a style of equal elegance. The distribution of the various
parts of this noble apartment is truly enchanting. The four
balconies above were occupied by musicians; below sat the
women; and a jet d'eau in the centre diffused a refreshing
coolness through the hall. The windows in the back ground
are finished in a similar style, and look into the little myrtle
garden of Lindaraxa, which, being neglected like the rest of
the palace, is no longer the lovely spot it was in the time of
the Arabs. The exquisite mosaics in this Hall are delineated
at large in Plates L1I. LIII. and LIV. infra; and twopannel
ornaments, with three of its circular Cufic inscriptions, in
Plate LXXXVI. infra.
PLATE XXXIX.
hall of the abencerrages.
Opposite to the Sala de dos Hermanas, is the Sala de los
Abencerrages, or Hall of the Abencerrages, so called from the
massacre of that illustrious tribe ; which is said to have been
here perpetrated by Boabdil, the last king of Granada. The
Abencerrages were one of the noblest tribes in that city, and
objects of envy to the Zegris and Gomeles, by whom they
were falsely accused of treason to the King, and one of them
was charged with illicit intercourse with the Queen. In
consequence of this charge, the monarch beheaded eighty-six
are, and support on their backs an alabaster bason richly carved
and ornamented, out of which rises a smaller bason. While
the pipes were kept in good order, a great volume of water
was thrown up from the latter; which fell clown into the
larger bason, and, passing through the lions, issued out of
their mouths into the large reservoir, which was of black
marble, thus forming a perpetual and refreshing cascade.
From this reservoir, the limpid stream was diffused by means
of marble channels through various apartments, and supplied
the jets d'eau which were constantly playing there. This
noble fountain is supposed to have been executed in imitation
of the brazen sea, placed by King Solomon in the Temple at
Jerusalem. Some of the stucco-work in this court, as well
as in the Pateo del Agua, is a modern and very inferior imi-
tation of the Arabic, being coarse and dirty, and is rapidly
mouldering to decay. The ancient work, on the contrary,
which is out of the reach of hands, is beautifully white, clean,
and sharp. Not a single spider's web, or insect of any kind,
could the author discover in any part of the court; while the
stucco work, executed by order of later kings, was covered
with cobwebs in various parts. The wooden work of the
Arabs also continues free from worms and insects of every
kind.
PLATE XXXV.
plan of the bason of the fountain of lions.
The form of this noble reservoir is a dodecagon : the inscrip-
tion around it is executed in elegant characters, and is engraved
at length in Plates LXXXIII. and LXXXIV. infra. It is
also given in modern Arabic characters, accompanied with a
literal translation by Professor Shakespear, in the " History
of the Mahometan Empire in Spain" Appendix, No. 2.
Many of the characters are much defaced by the injuries of
time.
PLATE xxxvi.
side elevation of the lions' court and fountain.
This plate exhibits a correct view of the proportions of the
Lions' Court, together with a section of the Fountain itself.
The clumsy shape of the lions presents a striking contrast to
the general harmony that pervades the fountain. The mosaic
ornaments in this plate are delineated at large, in Plates L.
and LI. infra.
PLATE XXXVII.
entablature in the court of the lions.
A careful examination of this engraving will convey a more
precise idea than any description can possibly give, of the
ALHAMRA AT GRANADA. 13
exquisite taste and skill displayed in the ornaments ; which
are scattered in such rich profusion throughout the superb
court and fountain already delineated. It will, therefore,
suffice to observe, that these ornaments are here given in their
full size; and that the height, from the bottom of the archi-
trave (with the inscription) to the bottom of the rafters, is
exactly two feet nine inches and a half, of English measure-
ment.
PLATE XXXVIII.
hall of the two sisters.
From the Lions' Court we pass into the Sala de dos Hermanas
or Hall of the Two Sisters, so called from two large and sin-
gularly beautiful pieces of marble, which form part of the
pavement, and are to be seen on either side of the fountain.
They measure fifteen feet in length by seven and a half in
breadth, and are entirely free from flaw or stain. The eye is
lost in contemplating the rich assemblage of ornaments, which
appear in every part of this noble hall.
From the pavement to the beginning of the arches., the walls
are decorated with elegant mosaic : the pamiels between the
arches are filled with a very delicate ornament, which at a
little distance has the appearance of a plain mass; and the
ceiling, which is carefully preserved from the injuries of the
weather, is composed of stalactites in stucco, and is finished
in a style of equal elegance. The distribution of the various
parts of this noble apartment is truly enchanting. The four
balconies above were occupied by musicians; below sat the
women; and a jet d'eau in the centre diffused a refreshing
coolness through the hall. The windows in the back ground
are finished in a similar style, and look into the little myrtle
garden of Lindaraxa, which, being neglected like the rest of
the palace, is no longer the lovely spot it was in the time of
the Arabs. The exquisite mosaics in this Hall are delineated
at large in Plates L1I. LIII. and LIV. infra; and twopannel
ornaments, with three of its circular Cufic inscriptions, in
Plate LXXXVI. infra.
PLATE XXXIX.
hall of the abencerrages.
Opposite to the Sala de dos Hermanas, is the Sala de los
Abencerrages, or Hall of the Abencerrages, so called from the
massacre of that illustrious tribe ; which is said to have been
here perpetrated by Boabdil, the last king of Granada. The
Abencerrages were one of the noblest tribes in that city, and
objects of envy to the Zegris and Gomeles, by whom they
were falsely accused of treason to the King, and one of them
was charged with illicit intercourse with the Queen. In
consequence of this charge, the monarch beheaded eighty-six