 |
Alhambra
(Reader Contribution to 10 Most Fascinating Castles and Palaces)
Completed towards the end of Muslim rule in Spain by Yusuf I (1333?1353) and Muhammed V, Sultan of Granada (1353?1391), the Alhambra is a reflection of the culture of the last days of the Nasrid emirate of Granada. It is a place where artists and intellectuals had taken refuge as Christian Spain won victories over Al Andalus. The Alhambra mixes natural elements with man-made ones, and is a testament to the skill of Muslim craftsmen of that time.
The literal translation of Alhambra, "red fortress", reflects the colour of the red clay of the surroundings of which the fort is made. The buildings of the Alhambra were originally whitewashed; however, the buildings now seen today are reddish.
The first reference to the Qal'at al Hamra was during the battles between the Arabs and the Muladies during the rule of the ?Abdullah ibn Muhammad (r. 888-912). In one particularly fierce and bloody skirmish, the Muladies soundly defeated the Arabs, who were then forced to take shelter in a primitive red castle located in the province of Elvira, presently located in Granada. According to surviving documents from the era, the red castle was quite small, and its walls were not capable of deterring an army intent on conquering. The castle was then largely ignored until the eleventh century, when its ruins were renovated and rebuilt by Samuel ibn Naghrela, vizier to the King B?d?s of the Zirid Dynasty, in an attempt to preserve the small Jewish settlement also located on the Sabikah hill. However, evidence from Arab texts indicates that the fortress was easily penetrated and that the actual Alhambra that survives today was built during the Nasrid Dynasty.
 Facebook E-mail it Del.icio.us | Share | Tweet |
 | Himeji Castel (Japan) by Japfan on 9/22/2011  0 votes Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in Himeji. The castle is regarded as the (...) (Source) | |
 | Egeskov Castle (Oak Forest Castle) by Ole on 5/7/2011 0 votes Egeskov Castle, as we see it today, was built by Frands Brockenhuus and was completed in 1554. (Source) | |
 | Alhambra Palace by Angela on 4/15/2011  1 votes The List is ridiculous without Alhambra palace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra | |
<< Go back to the article
10 Most Fascinating Castles and Palaces
| Search: | Lijit Search |
 | ||
 |
10 Gorgeous Women (Who Were Born Male) (NSFW / 18+) | |
 |
10 Handsome Men (Who Were Born Female) (NSFW / 18+) | |
 |
12 Disturbingly Weird Body Shapes (NSFW / 18+) | |
Oddee by Category:
Search Oddee.com:
Sites we like:
I-am-bored | 2leep
CollegeHumor | Leenks
Gajitz | UniqueDaily
Uncoached | Unreality
DRB | Inspiratorium
WebUrbanist | Ecoist
IncredibleThings | Dornob
GorillaMask | Eat Liver Neatorama | Uphaa
Oddee.com makes PC Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites of 2008!
Great articles on other blogs: