Overview of Islamic Gardens: MUSLIM SPAIN

Muslims from North Africa invaded Spain as early as 710 CE. However it wasn't until 912 CE, when the Ummayad dynasty was replaced with the Abbasid dynasty and went to Spain to establish their own caliphate, that one can say Muslim occupation officially began. Muslim occupied Spain was referred to as al-Andalus and Cordoba was it's capital. This area had been under the control of the Christians and previous to that by the Romans while also having Jewish cultural influence. Perhaps because the invaders were aware of these influences and because of the fact that the Ummayads were competing with the Abbasids in Baghdad for legitimacy, the Arabs made sure to emphasize a strong Arab culture in al-Andalus and gardens and architecture were a personification of this attempt. This meant that gardens in Spain would have embodied some Spanish- Christian, Roman, and even possibly Jewish ideas that had been transformed into an Islamic layout, specifically the bagh type from Persia. The result is often referred to as the Hispano-Arab garden which now appears more Islamic than anything else.

THE ALHAMBRA

The legacy of the Muslim occupation of Spain is best preserved in Granada, specifically at the Alhambra. The Alhambra, whose full name is Qal'at al-Hamra (arabic) or red fort because of the red clay found in the area, is a fortified complex situated on a hill called Sabikah overlooking Granada. The complex had several patrons including Yusuf b. Naghrallah, a Jewish vizier who built his palace there in 1052 CE, and Muhammed I (1230-72 CE) founder of the Nasrid dynasty. Most of the building had been done by later successors Yusuf I (1333-54 CE) and Muhammed V (1354-91 CE) although after Islamic control Charles V (1516-56 CE) and Philip V (1700-46 CE) made additions and alterations. One of the most noteworthy features about the Alhambra is the close almost indistinguishable relationship between inside and out mentioned earlier at the Chehel Sutun pavilion (previous article). According to Sylvia Crowe in her book Garden Design , "there is perhaps nowhere in the world a more complete inter-penetration of landscape and architecture" than there (p.25). She goes on to describe the features of the place saying:

``Halls, porticoes, arcades and patios lead one into another. The patios with their fountains, flowers and cypresses are rooms open to the air. The rooms with their wide arches open to the view, their plants in tubs and again their fountains are gardens roofed over.' p.25

Aside from showing the close connection between the indoors and outdoors, this quote also demonstrates the two themes running through this place. One is the now typical inclusion of water and irrigation channels in Islamic gardens which were applied to the Spanish garden through the use of fountains. The other is the local idea of providing a view over the countryside which was possible because of the geography. Another notable feature of Alhambra mentioned in this description is the use of patios. Patios are remnants of Roman influence and are derived from the Roman atrium in which a central focal point was the pool of water later becoming the fountain. Because the once nomadic Arabs that came to Spain were fond of the use of water the patio with its fountain was easily adaptable to the Islamic garden. One area which makes use of the fountain is the Court of the Lions. This simple space is a courtyard style garden which is divided into four sections with a center fountain surrounded by twelve marble lions. Incidentally animal or human sculptural pieces were not typical to traditional Islamic art and decoration and some Muslims to this day feel that sort of depiction is wrong. Considering this fountain may be attributed to Yusuf b. Naghrallah, the Jewish vizier who would probably have seen no harm in its depiction, that may explain their usage.

THE GENERALIFE

Associated with the Alhambra citadel is the summer garden called the Generalife, or Jinan al-Arif meaning 'gardens of the overseer' (arabic), built sometime before 1319 CE . The garden is entered through the house which leads into the Patio de la Acequia which has a view of the ravine separating it from the Alhambra and a view of more garden terraces leading up to the highest point-- the Sultana's Mirador Pavilion. The Generalife also contains a central canal with fountains shooting water across it from both ends in addition to greenery on both sides. A path crosses the center of the canal making the layout the Persian chahar bagh or quartered garden type. A strictly Islamic feature found here are the lotus-bud fountains which possibly came from Persia because lotus flowers are not common to southern Spain. Here as in the Alhambra gardens the local traditions of patios and views of the countryside are employed whereas the identifying Islamic feature is the subtle use of quartering.

The Generalife and the Alhambra both provide Spanish examples of the common practice and ability of Muslims to take up local traditions and successfully employ them using an Islamic style and ideology. Doing so they created in these places two truly unique Islamic oases whose beauty survived eight centuries of Islamic rule and beyond.

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INTERNET LINKS FOR THIS ARTICLE:

TUSPAIN- The Historic Alhambra, Granada

The Alhambra and Generalife

Lycos City Guide: Granada, Spain