Alhambra – Nasrid Palaces: Ceiling of the Sala de los Abencerrajes (Hall of the Abencerrajes)

A view of the ceiling of the Hall of the Abencerrajes inside the Nasrid Palaces in Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Sala de los Abencerrajes (Hall of the Abencerrajes) – A view of the ceiling

Sala de los Abencerrajes – A view of the ceiling
Located north of the Court of the Lions, the Hall of the Abencerrajes is ornate with beautiful geometric designs on its walls and ceiling. It has a central hall and a corridor with two beautifully decorated arches.

The view above the central hall is especially stunning. As you can see from the image, the ceiling looks like a honeycomb constructed with small and colorful cells of different geometric shapes, including triangles and rectangles. Such honeycomb structures are called dome of the mocárabes or muqarnas. Below the roof and covering the entire hall is a deck whose balustrades form an octagram, i.e., eight-angled star polygon, which is also a hexadecagon (a polygon with 16 sides).

The Hall of the Abencerrajes got its name from the legend of the Abencerrajes, a warrior clan from North Africa. According to this legend, 30 of them were assassinated in this room by the orders of the Sultan of Granada, who suspected a member of the clan was having an affair with one of the ladies of the royal family. However, there is no historical or archaeological evidence to support the occurrence of this event.

Related Images
Sala de los Abencerrajes – A sidewall with two arches
Sala de las Dos Hermanas – A view of the ceiling and wall
Sala de las Dos Hermanas – A view of the ceiling

Abencerrajes Related Images
In Alhambra
Medina
Abencerrajes Palace – Archaeological Site
Foundations of the rooms in the Abencerrajes Palace
Torre de los Abencerrajes – Abencerrajes Tower
In Generalife
Patio de la Sultana – Sultana’s Court
Plaque describing the Abencerrajes Legend in the Patio de la Sultana
Cypress Tree of the Abencerrajes Legend in the Patio de la Sultana

Related Pages
Alhambra:
Alhambra – Discover the magic of the Alhambra
Palacios Nazaríes – Nasrid Palaces – A Shining Example of Moorish Art and Architecture
Los Jardines del Partal – The Gardens of the Partal
Alcazaba – A Formidable Fortress of the Nasrids
Medina, the Bustling City of the Nasrids
Alhambra – Christian-Era Monuments
Alhambra – Outer Monuments
Generalife:
Heavenly Gardens of the Nasrids
Real Alcázar of Seville:
Pedro I Palace – A masterpiece of Mudéjar art and architecture

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