Hall of Ambassadors information - The Alhambra tourist information - Granada, Spain

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THE ALHAMBRA - Granada: A perspective of the Golden Saloon, or Hall of Ambassadors

THIS magnificent apartment, by the Arabs termed the GOLDEN SALOON, from the profusion of gold ornaments which it contained, was appropriated to the reception of ambassadors: hence they further called it the Hall of Audience, and from the same circumstance the Spaniards have given it the appellation of the Salade Los Emhaxadores, or Hall of Ambassadors. It is situated in the lofty tower of Comares or Comaresch is thirty-six
feet square, and sixty feet four inches high from the floor to the highest part of the cieling. The walls are, on three sides, fifteen feet thick, and on the fourth side nine; the lower range of windows is thirteen feet in height.

The grand entrance into this noble hall is through an arched door-way, admirably finished, and embellished with flowers and arabesques in stucco: they were blue and gold, but the gilding is now almost entirely effaced. From this entrance our view was taken, as affording the best view of this " Proud Saloon," as the Arabian writers term it, and which is admirably adapted to the display of Moorish grandeur. Over the principal door is an Arabic inscription, which appears to have been executed in a style corresponding to the splendour of the rest of the edifice: it is taken, with the exception of the concluding sentence, from the Koran, Sura, (or chapter) 91, Ayat (or verse) 1-7. "By the sun and its " rising brightness; by the moon, when she followeth him; " by the day, when he sheweth his splendour; by the night, " when it covereth him with darkness; by the heaven, and " him who created it; by the earth, and him who spread " it forth; by the soul, and him who completely formed " it; there is no other God but God. "', On each side of this door is a small niche, in which the Moors left their babouches or slippers, before they entered the royal presence: these niches an: likewise decorated with their respective inscriptions.

On entering the Hall of the Ambassadors, the eye is lost in astonishment, at the variety of ornament, the elegance of execution, and exquisite taste, which characterise every part of it: and, if thus superb even in its present deserted state, how resplendent must this " Golden Saloon" have been, when the sovereign, arrayed in all the pomp of Oriental magnificence, assembled his brilliant court to give audience to the representatives of the neighbouring monarchs! by comparing the following description with our plate, the reader may be enabled to form a pretty correct idea of this costly apartment. The whole floor is inlaid with mosaic: the same kind of ornament, but of different patterns, covers every part of the walls, interspersed with flowers and Arabic inscriptions, executed in porcelain with exquisite skill, so as to unite and harmonize exactly with the stucco ornaments which every where abound. On the cornices above the mosaics, and beneath the usual inscription, " there is no God but God," the piety or superstition of the modern Spaniards has led them to introduce the crucifix: it is however so dexterously inserted as not materially to injure the general effect.

The height and boldness of its arched ceiling are particularly worthy of observation: and the almost innumerable chiligon mosaics, knot and other ornaments, must be seen, to form a tolerable idea of their splendour. Gold, silver, azure, purple, and other brilliant colours, all seem to strive which shall appear most conspicuous on the stuccoed facets. Inscriptions occur every where, so that the Alhamra in general, and this apartment in particular, has not improperly been called a collection of fugitive pieces. Such of these inscriptions and mosaics, as have best survived the ravages of time and neglect, are engraved in some of the following engravings, and by comparing them with the perspective view given in the plate just described, the lover of antiquities may be enabled to form some faint idea of the departed glories and splendours of the Hall of the Ambassadors.

	More Alhambra Information
The Alhambra at Granada The Royal Palace The Alhambra fortress Plan of the Royal Palace Main entrance The Judgment Gate Elevation of the ancient Gate of the Judgment The Judgment Gate Porch Section of the Gate of the Judgment, Puerta del Vino and the Great Cistern The Baths Small Portico and Pateo del Agua A pateo del Agua alcove The Court and Fountain of Lions perspective Elevation of the Fountain of Lions Plan of the bason of the Fountain of Lions - Side Elevation - Entablature of the Court of the Lions Two Sisters hall The Abencerrages hall Section and Elevation of the interior of the Golden Saloon Moorish battle-piece Paintings in the Alhambra Arabian vases and niches Mosaics Arabian Ornaments Cufic Inscriptions Columns, capitals and cornices Royal Villa of Generalife view The Generalife Portico of the Generalife front view A Generalife Garden perspective view The Casa de Carbon

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