Al-Andaluse, name of Islamic Spain pre-1500
Alhambra, The Red Palace. The palace of the Nazrid Kings in the Country of Granada
Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah
Allah, God
Aragon, a country north of Granada, now part of Spain
Baklava, an Arabic dessert made with nuts and honey wrapped up in a flaky dough
Bedouin, a nomadic tribe of Arabs from northern Africa
Berbers, a tribe of people from northern Africa. The only blue-eyed race of Africans
Bismillah, in the name of God
Black Death, a plague that wiped out almost a quarter of the European world around 1350
Caftan, a long tunic
Caravan, a company of merchants traveling together
Castile, a country north of Granada, now part of Spain
Childbed fever, an infection of the reproductive system following childbirth
Concubine, a status of women in the harem, not married to the sultan, who also bear his children
Court of the Lions, a courtyard in the Palace of the Court of the Lions, surrounded by rooms on every side. Twelve lions support a central fountain. The original centerpiece of the fountain is no longer there. It was removed in the 1500’s.
Crusades, multiple wars fought between the Christians and the Arabs over the holy lands
Emir, Arab prince, governor or commander
Ewer, a pitcher or container for liquids
Eunuch, a neutered male who worked in the harems
Five pillars of Islam: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving and the remembrance of God
Generalife, the summer palace of the Alhambra
Gilded Court, a courtyard in the Palace of the Myrtles
Granada, the name of the Islamic country in southern Spain between 800 and 1492. It was also the name of the capital city in the Kingdom of Granada
Hall of the Abencerrajes, room off the south side of the Court of the Lions
Hall of the Ambassadors, the throne room in the Palace of the Myrtles where the sultan received important visitors
Hall of the Kings, room on the eastern side of the Court of the Lions
Hall of the Two Sisters, room on the north side of the Court of the Lions
Harem, a protected place where the women and children lived. A cloistered environment
Hijab, veil worn by Muslim women outside of their private lodging out of modesty
Infidels, nonbelievers of the Islamic religion
Inshallah, if Allah wills
Islamic Spain, that part of Spain that was under Islamic control before 1492
Jerusalem, the holy city for three religions, Islam, Judaism and Christianity
Justice Gate, one of the four main gates of the Alhambra
Khanqa, a Sufi hospice
Mirador de Lindaraja, a room in the Alhambra (mirror of the Lindaraja) off the Hall of Two Sisters
Mohammad, the spiritual founder of the Islamic religion
Mosque, religious building for Muslims
Muezzin, the person who gives the call to prayer
Navarre, a country in Spain near the French border during the 1400’s
Nazrid, name of the family of rulers that controlled Granada during the early middle ages
Palace of the Lions, one of the palaces in the Alhambra. One hundred and twenty-four peristyles are in the courtyard
Palace of the Myrtles, one of the palaces in the Alhambra, joined together with the Palace of the Lions after the expulsion of the Muslims in 1492
Palace of the Partal, a group of buildings in the Alhambra where guests were frequently housed
Patio de la Acequia, a beautiful courtyard in the Generalife
People of the Book, Christians
Peristyles, tall narrow columns
Prayers and when they occur: Fajr, at dawn; Zuhr, noon; Asr, midafternoon; Maghrib after sunset and Isha, right before midnight
Raptor, a bird of prey
Red Palace, the English translation of the name Alhambra
Rumi, a famous Sufi Arabic poet of the eleventh century
Saracens, a north African tribe
Scheherazade, a famous heroine of Arabic stories
Sierra Nevada, the mountain range in the south of Spain
Sitti, a female title of respect
Sufi, a mystic religious order of Islam
Sultan, a Muslim ruler or monarch
Tasbih, a necklace worn and used similar to a rosary
The Book of the Thousand and One Nights, the book of stories told through the voice of Scheherazade. Aladdin and his lamp is one of the better-known stories from the book
Toledo, a city in Castilian Spain once under Islamic control
Ululating, a high wavering sound made with the voice and tongue to indicate joy or sorrow
Vega, the great plains of southern Spain
Wazir, the office of Minister or Advisor (as in a minister of government)