Smyrna times., 1877-11-21
The Alhambra,

~
cairo. 1t was the castle to awe and defanc
III 1ne city, and also the palace of its kings
ne leading characteristics of the Moors
VINO built 1t, were chivalry and sensualitv
Inc Alhambra Is but the outward expres
sion OF these two qualities. As the archi
lecture which adorned the Acropolis was
tne expression of the taste and cultivation
OF the Athenians, and as the grand old
cathedrals were the expression of the
| religious sentiments of the awe ravar
ence and lofty conceptions of the
pIous devOtees who erected them CO
the Alhambra is the home of a wariikp
voluptuOus and cultivated race of kinos
Like the great temple of Karnac. il was
added to and beautfed by each successive
monarch, until it became one of the won.
ders OF the world for its grace, beauty and
extent. anu
The city of Grenada has now about 75 OOO
inhabitants. Under the Moors it had
4OO,OOO. 1t lies at the east end of a valley
or vega which is thirty miles long and
about twenty-five miles wide. The citv is
at the foot OF the mountains, on the eastern
slde OF this ampitheatre. The Alhambra
Is quit on spur Of the mountains as thew
break down into the valley. 1t rises imme.
olately over the city $50 feet. The hill is
ABOUT one'half of a mile long, and in its
oroadeSt part $50 feet wide. 1t descends
below. '"iiey
The plateau is surrounded bv = wall
thirty feet high and six feet tbicl[ and
IN some places it is built up from the ravine
below. The wall is not built of stone bnt
OF gravel, tramped hard, with occasionally
a course of fiat tile. Sometimes n Iittle
lime IS found mixed with the gravel bnt
generally there is none. The walls have
now stood for six centuries, and though thev
are slowly crumbling away, vet thew will
stand In that climate for centuries to como
lhere Is no stone work in all the walls
towers or palaces of the Alhambra. The
plateau has been described in shane rs like
graho piano, or leg Of mutton, with the
apex towards the city. In the rear it ioins
lseii TO the rising hills, which stretch east.
Wafd ana upward until they eliminate in
me snowy heights of the Sierra Nevada.
l-'OOO ieet above the sea. Standing above
Cne Z walls at different points were once
i''eeh or twenty large, square towers, each
large enough for a prison, or the residence
OF Sultana and her family, or n troon of
soldiers: The French, in 1903, blew nm
eight of these. W
II we ascend one of these, the Tore de
Ia Nela, which rises directly over the citv
on the very apex of the fortress. we shall
get magnificent view of the AlhamLra
the city, the vega, and the surrounding
mountains. AS we look down on tbe
Aihambra from this height we are snr.
lrlsed at the insignificant exterior of the
buildings. They are all dminutiye. most
m o. them one story high. and none over two
i !, he roof, covered with the pottery tile Of
ChS country, gives them the appearance of |
ordinary dwellings. This common and |
even shaboy external appearance to the |
d"eillhgs which are most gorgeously fitted |
within, Is frequently seen in Eastern cities |
| he same thing will be seen in Cairo and |
! damascus, where the approach to the
yard. p" '"' II
The western part of the Alhambra, look.
ny uowh on the city, was devoted to bar.
"chs ior soldiers and large squares for the
'NgrclSihg OF troops, while the magazines
ny ,nu tanks Tor water were built underneath
his end of the Alhambra was spnorotoJ
rom the grounds devoted to the roval resi-.
ience by high wall. There were formerly
winter ana summer palace, and numer
'us mosques and other buildings. Ferdi
land and Isabella destroyeed many Of
hese 10 make room for churches and con.
ehts: The winter palace was DESTROYED
y Charles V. to make room for a grand
'alace Tor himself, which he commenced
uC never hnlshed. 1t is about 200 feet
4uare' bullt OF white stone, overloaded
'Ith ornament. Before the roof was nut
n' the monarch's means failed him, and
uosequehtly an earthquake shattered its
'all and gave it an i'll omen.
me summer palace is left standing. But
Dr. centuries it was neglected and pillaoed
y every one, made pen for sheen and
oats, and a rendezvous for vagrants. Mr.
rVlng called the attention of the civilized
ORD to this vandalism, and awakened the
Panish Government to save what was left |
this monument of the taste, wealth and
'Xury OF once great nation. Now the !
oVernment have an agent here. Senior !
who with great taste is engaged
slowly restoring the buildings to their
'rIher state. lie is also making a private .
'rtune by the sale of models. Those who |
ny had better pay for them when safely
PiiVered IN America. The summer palace G
nlch now remains is a series of low build. y
gs Quilt around patios or courts, which Q
. connected together by arches extend. a
= rom one court to another. Some of U
lese courts are large. The Court of the
yrtleS Is i3O feet by 80, and has lake 30
et long, hlled with fish and surrounded I
y,r rmyrtles, cypress and orange trees. .
Inc Court of Lions is lI6 feet long bv 66 .
ct wide, with the famous fountain Of the L
we've marble lions in the centre. Others o
e much smaller, filled with orange treesand
'wers and fountains. Around these courts C
e corridors, beautifully paved, supnorted 81
small, graceful, palm-like marble pillars e
'metlmes two or three columns stand u
gether. Around the Court of Lions are p
q OF these columns. Opening on to these u
rrdors and to the courts are the princi. o
u rooms of the palace, generally on the q
ound hoor. The arched doorways, and "
9 graceful columns supporting them, are q
ch picture of elegance. In manv cases "a "a
g eye catchesa charming glimpse, through III
long vista under arches supported by the OF
Unlike columns, from one court 10 "
other and another, filed with flowers
.es and fountains. The exterior walls =,
ing six feet thick, the windows appear II
'e portfolios. Often the view through D
em reveals lovely picture of green hill. ~
les far across the valley and to the dis. 10
Mt mountains. " ~
Many large public rooms open on to these a.
rIous courts, such as the Hall of Judo. A,
INT, the Hall Of the Abencerraaes, the ~
III OF the Two Sisters, the Hall of the y;