OPPOSITE to the Sala de dos Hermanas, is the Sala de los Abencerrages,
or Hall of the Abencerrages, so called from the massacre of that illustrious
tribe; which is said to have been here perpetrated by Boabdil, the
last king of Granada. The Abencerrages were one of the noblest tribes
in that city, and objects of envy to the Zegris and Gomeles, by whom
they were falsely accused of treason to the King, and one of them
was charged with illicit intercourse with the Queen. In consequence
of this charge, the monarch beheaded eighty-six of the Abencerrages
(some statements say thirty-five) in one day: the Sultana committed
her defence to four Christian knights, her champions, who each overcame
the accuser with whom he fought, and vindicated both her character
and that of the Abencerrages." The eyes of the vulgar can still
perceive, in the alabaster bason which is in the centre of this apartment,
traces of the blood of those brave men, whom they consider as the
martyrs of envy: but the unanimous testimonies of enlightened travellers
assert, that these indelible bloody spots are nothing more than the
effects of time and exposure to the air.
The Hall of the Abencerrages appears to have been a central saloon
communicating with the other apartments of the palace. Every possible
variety of combinations, which can be devised by ingenuity or patience,
is employed to decorate the walls and ceiling; and is executed in
the most exquisite manner that can be conceived. The lines regularly
cross each other in a thousand forms; and, after manifold windings,
return to the spot whence they first begin. An inspection of Plate
LV. in which one of these admirable mosaics is delineated, will
give a more correct idea of the taste and beauty which pervade them,
than could be obtained from a mere description, or from a minute
examination of the present engraving. These uncommon designs appear
again in different parts, and were probably formed by pouring prepared
gypsum into moulds, and, after applying it to the walls, by painting
it with gold, azure, and purple. The ceiling itself is equally extraordinary,
and worthy of admiration: it presents a series of grottos, from
which depend stalactites, painted of various colours.
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