Alhambra Palace 3

Patio de los Leones

Built in 1377 by Mohamed V, son of Yusuf I, it has a rectangular floor, surrounded by a gallery with 124 slender columns of white marble. The bedrooms and private rooms of the sultan and his wives have high, open floor plans, with no windows to look outside. Inside is a garden, as, for Muslims, it is like paradise.

What is now land in the yard was a garden—four flowing streams that go to the center— the four rivers of paradise. The columns are joined with openwork panels that allow light to enter.

The two temples that are moving to the two opposite sides of the patio are a reminder of the tent of the Bedouin. They are square and decorated with wooden domes, which are based on pendentives of mocarabes. The wing is the work of the 19th century. The whole gallery is roofed with handcrafted laceria.

Fuente de los Leones

Recent studies show that the lions are from the home of the Jewish vizier Ibn Yusuf Nagrela (1066). It is not known if it was built before his death, although he wanted to make a more grandiose palace for the king. An almost exact description of the source has been preserved by the poet Ibn Gabirol (S. XI).

It represents the 12 tribes of Israel. Two of them have a triangle on the front, indicating the chosen two tribes: Judah and Levi, son of the 11th century. The cup has verses written by the minister and poet Ibn Zamrak, in which he beautifully describes the source itself:

“…A very clear bowl carved pearl, aljofar haven for the fringe, and is among the daisies argento, fluid and made white and pure. It is akin rioja rioja hard and fluent It’s hard to know which of them flowing…”

The source of the lions has several meanings or symbolisms. Twelve lions have astrological symbols, and each refers to a zodiacal sign. Moreover, it has a political and majestic significance.

Hall of Mocarabes

It is so called due to the vault of the mocarabes covered. The plasterwork on the walls consists of religious inscriptions and the escudo Nazari dynasty. An archway leads to mocarabes andalusia:

It was related to King Solomon (the king architect), as there is an entry in the source about this. Last and most important, it refers to a symbol of paradise, referring to the source, origin of life, and the four rivers of paradise.

Currently, the source is in the process of restoring what has made the inevitable move of the lions. Therefore, if you will soon visit the Alhambra, you should know that the source is not the Lions.

Hall of Abencerrajes

This room was the sultan’s bedroom. Because there are no private windows to the outside, the walls are richly decorated. The stucco and the colors are original. The base tile is of the 16th century, the factory azulejos sevillana.

The dome is decorated with mocarabes; on the floor in the center, a Fuentecilla served to reflect the dome mocarabes that Andalusia be richly decorated and get a charming and magical light, because light entering from the top changed with different times of day.