48 GRANADA 



the same confused symmetry, as are seen in the 

 Sala de los Abencerrages. Indeed, this hall is 

 generally (but not universally) considered the 

 more admirable of the two. The surface of the 

 walls is hidden beneath costly reliefs of stucco 

 and azulejos. Inscriptions on the sixteen medal- 

 lions and cartouches have been deciphered into 

 a long poem by Ibn Zamrek, composed in honour 

 of Mohammed V., and translated into eleven 

 verses of Spanish by Valera. One verse exhorts 

 us "to look attentively at my elegance and reap 

 the benefit of a commentary on decoration ; here 

 are columns ornamented with every perfection, 

 the beauty of which has become proverbial." 



In this magnificent apartment formerly stood 

 the famous vase (el jarron), which tradition says 

 was discovered in one of the subterranean chambers 

 of the Palace, full of gold. It is now in the little 

 Alhambra Museum. The vase, which dates from 

 the fourteenth century, and is beautifully ena- 

 melled in white, blue, and gold, is described by 

 Baron Davillier in his work on Spanish Pottery. 



Beyond the Hall of the Two Sisters is a long, 

 narrow apartment called the Sala de los Ajimeces 

 (Hall of the Twin Windows). Its ceiling and 

 decorations are little inferior to those of the 

 larger hall. On the north side opens the exquisite 

 Mirador de Lindaraja, or prospect-chamber, 

 affording a delightful view of the garden beyond. 



