Places and Spots in the Alhambra: “ Dos Hermanas” Hall (Alhambra)

“ Dos Hermanas” Hall (Alhambra)

Short description of the monument

The “Dos Hermanas” hall presents a central square space with the function of a Mesuar or council hall for the viziers. It is covered by a cupola with “mocarabes” or “muqarbas” (decorative motif characteristic of the Moslem architecture, based on vertically juxtaposed bows or prisms) over an octagonal drum, flanked by three lateral rooms and at the rear the “Mirador of Lindaraja”, used as the throne room, from which the sultan could contemplate the capital of the sultanate.

History of the monument

One might think that the name of this room is based on some old legend, or something that happened here, but in fact its name originates from the two big twin square marble slabs of its pavement. This hall was the center of a series of rooms occupied by the sultana and the Royal family. The mother of Boabdil lived there with her children, after being repudiated by Muley Hacén.

This hall was constructed by Mohamed V during the first part of his reign (between 1354 and 1358) and was used as a new Mexuar of the sultan, whose throne was placed at the “Mirador of Daraxa” or “Mirador of Lindaraja”. This mexuar, at the “Dos Hermanas” hall had a representative function. A second mexuar, with an administrative function, joined to this one has disappeared. In 1362, the rest of the Lion’s Palace, the courtyard and the other rooms had not been constructed yet. They must have been built from 1363.

The “Dos Hermanas” hall has a square floor plan, with ceilings ornamented with bow details and alcoves that communicate with the Rooms of Carlos V, and through a balcony, with the “Partal” gardens. The entrance to the hall is through a semicircular scalloped arch (arch with a silhouette of convexly waves), which still keeps the original wooden doors. Through a passage we get to the upper rooms, with ornamental ceilings from the 16th century. The entrance to the chamber of the “mirador” is through three small arches. The lateral arches are decorated with “muqarbas” (decorative motif based on vertically juxtaposed bows or prisms) and carved “al-baniqa” (the triangle shaped space between the arch and the frame or moulding around it) on the central arch. From the windows we have a great view of the Lion’s courtyard.

The marble pavement of the hall has a small fountain with a spout and a narrow channel that conducts the water to the Lion’s courtyard. The most astonishing element of this hall, for its beauty and perfection, is the cupola decorated with “muqarbas” or “mocarabes” that closes the room. The illumination, perfectly studied, enters through lateral small windows, converting the cupola into a beautiful flower of an exquisite richness. Ibn Zamrak gathered in a poem all the beauty of this room, of which there is still a fragment about a tiled socle with metallic iridescences. The walls of the hall are covered with very fine plaster works with different motifs, amongst them the classic “nazarie” motto: <>

Bibliography

• David Stephenson. “Visions of heaven: The Dome in European Architecture”.

• “Granada en tus manos. Alhambra y Generalife”. Author: Carlos Vílchez Vílchez. Ideal – 2006.

Web sites:

• http://www.liceus.com/cgi-bin/gba/20050.asp

• http://www.alhambradegranada.org/historia/alhambraSDosHermanas.asp

• http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/recursos_informaticos/andared01/alhambra/
leones/sala2hermanas.htm

• http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/5885/castella/dosherma.htm

The Royal Palace

Introduction

Mexuar

Oratory

The Golden Room Courtyard

Golden Room

The Comares Palace

The Arrayanes Courtyard

The Barca Hall

The Comares Tower

The Embajadores Hall

The Lion’s Palace