The Alhambra is a combination of multiple palaces constructed throughout the course
of history. It was built chiefly between 1238 and 1358, in the reigns of Ibn al-Aḥmar,
founder of the Naṣrid dynasty. The site occupies fourteen hectares, which could accommodate
40,000 people. Therefore, the Arab sources referred to the area not as a palace, but
as a town, for the place was a city in its own right. This historical artifact sits over
the city of Granada on the Sabika hill where it meets the Sierra Nevada, Spain’s highest
mountain range. So, let’s take a look at The Alhambra Palaces and their cultural and
historical significance.
The Alhambra was built with the climate and environment in mind. The structure of the
Palace functioned like a geode, with a rough turreted exterior crust constructed within
fortress-like stone and stucco. These masonry materials and construction methods maintained
the cool of nights into days and stored the sun's heat during winter. The external walls
had a whitewash coat that would reflect the heat of the sun and had overhanging roofs
to control solar exposure inside. Pools provided an evaporating cooling effect allowing air
to be circulated through openings within. A qanat aqueduct was used that ran underneath
the ground to prevent evaporation, using gravity to distribute water throughout the city.
The name, Alhambra, is derived from the Arabic word for “red castle or vermillion”, alluding
to the red exterior walls. Intricate calligraphy script and rhombus geometric patterns decorate
the walls and ceilings of the Alhambra complex, much like the maximalism art prevalent in
the 1230s around the world. Such designs are made of plaster and ceramics of which serve
no structural purpose, much like the arches that decorate the Court of Myrtles and the
Court of Lions. The 16 windows at the top of The Hall of Ambassadors allows natural
light to flow through a cluster of stalactites. Moorish religion does not permit decorating
walls with images of living creatures; hence calligraphy and geometric patterns decorate
the walls. The design of the walls and ceilings of the complex serve as a representation of
the art during that time, intricate and meaningful.
This palace is embedded with different styles of Arabic writing including Kufic script,
and calligraphic text as a part of the architectural design. The writing on the wall is home to
religious texts and literature references like, “Only God is victor” by the founder
of the Nasrid Kingdom. The architecture’s inclusion of wall engraved inscriptions can
be understood as actualizations of a paradise from Islamic verses. It describes a beautiful
utopian-like environment emulated through the Alhambra Palace in the form of sprawling
gardens, courtyards, and detailed artforms. For centuries, the Alhambra Palace has used
literature to spark imagination, curiosity, and contemplation within artists, writers,
and poets from its strong historical mystery.
From the change of occupants, the Alhambra became an amalgamation of influences from
the Moorish and Catholic religions. Being a dominant element in the complex, Moors believed
water was the purest symbol of life. From essential bathing rooms to the Fountain of
Lions, water was integral to the Alhambra. The ceilings of the Hall of Ambassadors were
crafted with such complexity to represent the Moors’ ideal paradise, the Quran. When
the Christian kings moved in, a statue of Virgin Mary was placed above the gates of
Alhambra surrounded by Moorish tiles, a distinct appreciation of the existing architecture
even after their displacement.
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