The Caliphal basin

The Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife presents the Caliphal basin with deer and lions as piece of the month in the Museum of the Alhambra. Those interested in participating in this free activity, to be held every Saturday in June, from 12:00 on, are invited to come to Room III of the Museum of the Alhambra, where the art historian Teresa Megías Gámiz will reveal details and specialties of this attractive piece.
The marble basin was build in the 10th century for one of the palaces of the military man and politician al-Mansur bi-llah, better known as Almanzor, in Córdoba. One of the longitudinal sides is framed with an inscription, which reveals that the basin was brought to Granada after the plundering of Almanzor’s palace, and then translated to the Alhambra, where it was installed in the Alcazaba, the military zone of the city. In this fortress, it was used as a basin or trough, wherefore it shows some abrasions and damage, especially due to friction because of its use in the course of time.
Nevertheless, it still has conserved its decorative beauty. The motifs of its decoration disprove the false theory of the prohibition of figurative representation in the Islamic culture. Raised lions and eagles are symbols of power, which together with other herbivorous animals compound the different social classes. Next to the lion and the herbivorous animals, like fawns and gazelles, also other elements, like the tree of life, have been depicted in many later works.
Opening hours: Every Saturday in June, at 12:00 noon.
Location: Room III, Museum of the Alhambra, Palace of Charles V.