History and symbolism of the Court of the Lions: The artistic heart of the Alhambra
The Court of the Lions is the most famous spot in the Alhambra, named after the twelve lions that support the basin of the fountain located at the center of the courtyard.
Mohammed V commissioned the construction of the Court of the Lions. It has a rectangular floor plan and is surrounded by a gallery in the style of a Christian cloister, supported by 123 white marble columns topped with several rings.
Many modifications have been made to the Court of the Lions. Initially, the center of the courtyard featured a lush garden, and the gallery floors were made of white marble.
The garden was removed to prevent moisture damage to the structure, an issue that had occurred in other periods.
THE ORIGINS OF THE FOUNTAIN
Regarding the origin of the fountain at the center of the Court of the Lions, one of the most well-known sites in the Alhambra, the most widely accepted theory suggests it came from a palace belonging to the Ibn Nagrella family.
Ibn Gabirol, one of the poets closest to this family, authored a poem in the 11th century describing the structure, including details such as:
There is a plentiful basin that resembles
the sea of Solomon
yet does not rest upon bulls;
such is the addition of the lions,
that stand upon the edge, as if
the cubs were roaring for their prey…
This account has led historians to associate the fountain described in the poem with the one in the Court of the Lions.
The basin, made of white marble like the entire fountain, bears on its edge an inscription by Ibn Zamrak, dedicated to Muhammad V, the sultan who built the palace. This detail has sparked theories suggesting the fountain was either reconstructed from the original or newly added in the 14th century.
This theory was supported by the Alhambra Trust after the fountain’s restoration, when it was determined that the material used for the basin, fountain, and lions dates back to the 14th century, not the 11th.
THE ROLE OF WATER IN THE ALHAMBRA
Water was considered the source of life in the Alhambra. It flowed throughout the complex and was the basis of its agriculture. The Nasrids used irrigation channels to distribute water, built aqueducts, and employed safety valves to manage excess water.
The precious liquid was stored in cisterns, which also served as a filtration and settling system to ensure its cleanliness and purity. For this reason, the main channel did not have a storage well.
A network of ceramic pipes distributed water throughout the Alhambra, delivering it to homes and public baths. Water also played a decorative role in palaces and houses, with striking fountains and pools, some adorned with poems and inscriptions, as can be seen in the fountain of the Court of the Lions.
