The morning call., 1890-09-17

ture pillars. The columns supporting the gal
leries are light in structure, and arches slender
and bending gracefully like palms, spring from
the capitals and meet overhead. From this
court The walls OF the Tore de Comares" are
seen rising over the roof to The north, and Its
tower ana colonnades are reflected in the crystal
mirror of the pond.
The Hall OF Ambassadors (Sala de Ambaja-
dorcS IS lhe largest IN the Alhambra and Occu-
pies all the Tower of Comares. 1t Is a square
room. The sides being thirty-Seven feet In length
while the center Of the dome is seventy-iive feet
high. This was the grand recepton-room and
the throne OF The Sultan was placed opposite the
entrance. The azulejos are nearly four feet high
all round and the c0lOrs vary at Intervals. Over
!hem is series OF oval medalllOns, with inscrip.
llohs interviewer with flowers and leaves. There
are nine windows, three on each facade and the
ceiling Is admirably diversified with imlad work
Oh wblte, bine and geld in the shape OF circles
crowns and stars, kind of imitation of the vault
OF heaven. The walls are covered with varied
etuccO wolk. OF most delicate pattern, surround
Ing many ancient escutcheons
another or the more celebrated courts OF the
palace Is the Patio de los Leones" the Court
OF tDe Liens. This Is an oblOng court, 116 feet
ln length by slxty-six in breadth, surrounded by
a low gallery supported on 124 marble columns.
A pavilion projects into the court at each eX-
ttemity, with 1ltgree walls aud lgnt-d0med roof
elaborately ornamented. The square is paved
with colored tiles and the colonnade with white
marble. while the walls are covered five feet up
from The ground with blue and yellow tiles, with
border above and below enameled blue and
gold The columns supporting the roof and gal
lefy are lrregudily placed, Win ayleW 10 artistic
effects, and the general form of the piers arches
and pillars is most graceful. They are adorned
by varieties Of foliage and about each arch is a
large square OF arabeSques, while over the pill
lars is another square OF exquisite hltgree work.
In the center OF the court is The celebrated foun
tain OF lions. magnificent aldbaSIer basin sup
ported by The figures OF twelve lions in Willie
marble, not Designed with sculptural accuracy,
but as emblems Of strength and courage. When
the fountain was in good order great volume OF
water was thrown Ip Which fell Into tile basin,
passed through the lions and issued from their
mouths.
The Hall OF the Abencerrages derives Its
name from legend, according To which Boabdil,
the last King OF Granada, having invited the
chiefs OF that iluStrlous line to a banquet, mas
sacred them there. This room is a perfect
square, with lofty dome, ana trellIsed windows
at Its base. The roof IS exquisIely decorated
in blue. brown red and gold aud the columns
supporting ii spring into the arch form in re-
markably beautiful manner. Opposite to this
hall is The "Hdll OF the Two Sisters,' so called
from TWO very beautiful white marble slabs laid
as part of the pavement. These slabs measure
10 ieet by IA feet aud are without flaw or stain.
There Is fountain III the middle OF this hall,
and the roof Is composed OF stalaciileS nearly
5000 pieces entering into It's construction. The