Editing Alhambra (section)

====Palace of the Lions====
{{main|Court of the Lions}}
[[File:Palacios Nazaríes in the Alhambra (Granada). (51592334991) (cropped).jpg|alt=|thumb|The [[Court of the Lions]] and its central fountain]]
The Palace of the Lions is one of the most famous palaces in [[Islamic architecture]] and exemplifies the apogee of Nasrid architecture under the reign of Muhammad V.{{Sfn|Bloom|2020|p=164}} Its central rectangular courtyard measures about 28.7 metres long and 15.6 metres wide, with its long axis aligned roughly east-to-west.{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=279}} The arches and columns of the surrounding portico are arranged in a complex pattern of single columns alternating with groups of two or three columns, a design that was unique in Islamic architecture.{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|pp=279–281}} Two ornate pavilions stand at the east and west sides of the courtyard, while the centre is occupied by the famed Fountain of the Lions. The fountain consists of a large basin surrounded by twelve stylized lion sculptures, all carved from marble.{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|pp=282–283}} Along the rim of the fountain's basin is an inscribed poem composed by Ibn Zamrak. This praises the beauty of the fountain and the power of the lions, but it also describes their hydraulic systems and how they worked.<ref>{{harvp|Al-Hassani|Woodcock|Saoud|2007|p=233}}</ref>
[[File:Hall of Kings (Alhambra) 08 (43582411254).jpg|left|thumb|Painted ceiling with Nasrid figures in the Hall of Kings]]
Four halls are arranged around the courtyard. The ''Sala de los Mocárabes'' ('Hall of the ''mocárabes'' (''muqarnas'')'), on the west side, was damaged in 1590 by the explosion of a nearby [[gunpowder magazine]] and its ceiling was replaced by the current Baroque-style plaster vault in 1714.{{Sfn|López|2011|p=132}}{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|pp=52–53}} The {{Ill|Sala de los Reyes|es|Sala de los Reyes (Alhambra)|italic=y}} ('Hall of Kings'), on the east side, is subdivided into multiple sections covered by ''muqarnas'' vaults. Opening behind these are several more rooms, three of which contain rounded vault ceilings covered by unique pictorial scenes painted on leather.{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=284}}{{Sfn|López|2011|p=140}} One painting shows ten figures, probably sultans or other important dignitaries, sitting and discussing together.{{sfn|Irwin|2004|pp=53–54}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Echevarria |first=Ana |date=2008 |title=Painting Politics in the Alhambra |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/me/14/2-3/article-p199_3.xml?language=en |journal=Medieval Encounters |language=en |volume=14 |issue=2–3 |pages=203 and after |doi=10.1163/157006708X366254 |issn=1570-0674}}</ref>{{Sfn|López|2011|p=140}}{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=284}} The two other paintings feature scenes of sports, hunting, and court life.{{Sfn|López|2011|p=140}}{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=284}} The style of painting was influenced to one extent or another by Christian [[Gothic art]].{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=284}}{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|pp=53–54}}{{Sfn|López|2011|p=140}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dodds |first=Jerrilynn |date=1979 |title=The Paintings in the Sala de Justicia of the Alhambra: Iconography and Iconology |journal=Art Bulletin |volume=61 |issue=2 |pages=186–197 |doi=10.1080/00043079.1979.10787657}}</ref>
[[File:Alhambra Hall of Two Sisters DSCF7585.jpg|thumb|''[[Muqarnas]]'' dome in the Hall of the Two Sisters]]
On the south side of the courtyard, the ''Sala de los Abencerrajes'' ('Hall of the [[Abencerrages]]') derives its name from a legend according to which the father of [[Boabdil]], the last sultan of Granada, having invited the chiefs of that line to a banquet, massacred them here.<ref>Lowe, Alfonso; Hugh Seymour-Davies. ''The Companion Guide to the South of Spain''. Companion Guides, 2000. {{ISBN|9781900639330}}. P. 8.</ref> It is covered by an elaborate ''muqarnas'' vault ceiling, featuring a 16-sided [[Roof lantern|lantern]] cupola in the shape of an [[Octagram|eight-pointed star]], possibly symbolizing the celestial heaven.{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=285}}{{Sfn|López|2011|pp=136–138}}{{Sfn|Bloom|2020|p=163}} On the north side of the courtyard is the ''Sala de Dos Hermanas'' ('Hall of Two Sisters'), so-called because of two large slabs of marble that form part of the pavement. Its original Arabic name was ''al-Qubba al-Kubrā'' ({{Langx|ar|القبة الكبرى|lit=the Great Dome|links=no}}), suggesting it had a particular significance.{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=285}} The hall is covered by one of the most remarkable ''muqarnas'' domes in [[Islamic architecture|Islamic art]]. The ''muqarnas'' composition consists of at least 5000 [[Prism (geometry)|prismatic]] pieces, unfolding from the central summit into sixteen miniature domes right above the level of the windows.{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|p=55}}{{Sfn|López|2011|p=145}}

To the north of the ''Sala de Dos Hermanas'', and accessed through it, is the ''Mirador de Lindaraja'', a small projecting room with double-arched windows on three sides which overlook the gardens below. The name ''Lindaraja'' is a corruption of Arabic ''<nowiki/>'Ayn Dar 'Aisha'' ({{Langx|ar|عين دار عائشة|lit=Eye of the House of 'Aisha|links=no}}).{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|p=9}} This small chamber has some of the most sophisticated carved stucco decoration in the Alhambra and retains original mosaic tilework that features very fine Arabic inscriptions.{{Sfn|López|2011|p=146}}{{Sfn|Arnold|2017|p=286}}{{Sfn|Irwin|2004|p=55}} The room is also covered by a unique vault ceiling consisting of a wooden [[Lattice (order)|lattice]] shaped into an interlacing geometric motif and filled with pieces of [[Glass coloring and color marking|coloured glass]].{{Sfn|López|2011|p=146}}