The Alhambra, part 2

[low_delta]

As I mentioned, I had been interested in seeing Moorish works when we went to Spain. This one was the top of my list. Well, just about the only thing on my list, really. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world.


Looking into the Court of the Lions

2
This was a rather large and ornate room, with a high, domed ceiling covered with honeycomb. I'm sure it has a name, but I if I heard it at the time, I don't remember.

3
While the Christian King, Peter I, hired many Moorish artisans to build his palace in Seville, The Moorish kings hired many Christian artisans to build their palace.

4

5
It didn't occur to me until someone asked about the place, after we got home, but there's a difference between these historic places, and the ones here in the states. All of the very old places here (that aren't simply ruins) are set up to be educational. They always are furnished with their original accoutrements, or replicas, and many of them have people giving talks or doing reenactments. These rooms were all bare.

6

7
Detail from the previous.

8

9
3d if you know how to see it. Cross your eyes.

10

11
They were doing reconstruction on the Court of the Lions. Aside from the lions being missing, there was some scaffolding. Odd that lions are so prominent here, since Islam forbids the representation of living things, but these people were somewhat insulated from Muslim culture at the time. The king who built this courtyard was heavily influenced by many cultures of this part of the world, and specifically by the Alcazar (see earlier posts), which was built by his friend, Peter I.

12
A closeup of muqarnas, otherwise known as honeycomb or stalactite vaulting.

13
This guy was cleaning tile. He wasn't the only worker I saw, but he's the only one I remember working on the place.

14
From one of the more spectacular, though run-down rooms in the palace, the Hall of the Abencerrajes.

15
A reflecting pond behind a pavilion that overlooks the city below.

My collection of photos from this place is a little odd. Many areas are very dim, and my pictures didn't turn out well. For a few, I had my white balance wrong, and I either lost the RAW files, or never made any, so I can't post those. Some aren't good photos, because it's hard to pick out the detail. That honeycomb is like camouflage. And it seems I didn't take a very large number of photos, given the size of the place. And I have no good pictures of the landmark features, only detail shots.

Comments

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I couldn't take it all in! Of course, that's partly because I was looking through the camera the whole time...

I didn't even realize until looking at the photos, that those walls in #1 and #11 are hollow.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Hollow is one way of saying it. The idea behind that is to have the walls look like lace and let the light shine through giving it a very delicate and airy feel.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Cyn mentioned lace.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

BOING!!! my eyes just popped out of their sockets trying to see the fullness of these pics.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I tried taking several 3d views, trying to get across more of the detail and the feel of it, but they didn't usually turn out.

[emschin.livejournal.com]

Looking at all the intricate detail in each picture, I can see how difficult it would have been to take pictures. I just can't imagine "building" it.

[emschin.livejournal.com]

I finally looked up just who "the Moors" were and a bit of their history. Then I went back and looked at your pictures all over again.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

It's really hard NOT to concentrate on the detail there. Overviews often seem cluttered in photos. You got some good shots, Kevin, and I think you captured the essence pretty well. It's just that the Alhambra requires many repeat visits in order to stop feeling overwhelmed. I am at the point where I can walk in and look for specifics. It's a VERY hard place to photograph and your first picture here is superb.

On another note: they think that fountain lions (the ones being restored) were a gift to the Moorish King and he honoured the gift giver by having it installed in his palace.
And you're right about their isolation from the rest of the Moslem world.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

One article I read said the lions were from a Caliph's palace.

Also, my overall shots were often a bit dull. A big square room, where you could just make out some texture on the walls. The only large scale details are the arches and columns.

[i.livejournal.com]

see what people do when they aren't allowed to make representational art?

farbelistic!

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

Man oh man. Things humans can do.....

[daphnep.livejournal.com]

That is so beautiful.

I can't imagine how much more so, in real life.