30 GRANADA 



palace by a ravine where, after the Conquest, 

 cisterns were constructed by order of the Conde 

 de Tendilla and over which the existing Plaza 

 de los Algibes was formed. These works appear 

 to have necessitated the demolition of a wall 

 which ran across from the Torre de las Gallinas 

 on the north to the beautiful Puerta del Vino 

 on the south. This gateway is now quite isolated 

 from the wall of circumvallation. Over the horse- 

 shoe arch is an inscription in stucco, of the usual 

 Moorish character, invoking the Divine protec- 

 tion for the builder, Sultan Mohammed V. It 

 appears to commemorate some striking victory. 

 Over the arch again is a fine double window 

 or ajimez. On the keystone is seen the key, 

 so often figuring as a symbol in all parts of the 

 Alhambra, with a G in Kufic characters perhaps 

 the initial letter of the city. The interior fagade 

 has a large horseshoe arch and the twin-windows 

 above. The Puerta del Vino was probably 

 the entrance to the courts and gardens of the 

 palace. 



Having crossed the Plaza de los Algibes, we 

 leave behind us the early Moorish works, and 

 approach the buildings which owe their founda- 

 tion to the Nasrite or Grenadine dynasty. 

 The story which credits Al Ahmar (Mohammed 

 I.) with the creation of the Red Palace in 

 the middle of the thirteenth century appears to 



