Alhambra, Patio de los Leones

An extremely common repeating pattern in western Islam, and the basic repeat becomes incorporated as an element of numerous larger compositions. In the Alhambra, the pattern occurs on wooden doors in the north-east corner of the Patio de los Leones.

• The symmetry group of the tiling is *442 (p4m).
• All the internal angles of the constituent polygons are a multiple of 45°.
• Contains two regular 8-pointed star polygons with vertex angle of 90°.
• There are four non-regular reflective tiles (including one kite).
• The tiling satisfies the interlace condition and has one finite interlace and no infinite interlace with straight cross-overs.
• The tiling is edge-to-edge.
• As drawn, contains about 183 polygons.

1. Fig 473 (Marrakesh, Morocco. Leather binding, British Library) from [etting] (1256AD, 653AH)
2. Photo by David Wade: SPA 0424x (Alhambra, Patio de los Leones, Spain) from [wadei] (1370-6AD, 771-7AH)
3. 308:91-1866 (Toledo, Spain. Tin-glazed earthenware) from [vami] (15th century AD)
4. Archnet photo, 87669, site 3739 (Minaret, Iglesia de San Juan de los Reyes, Granada, Spain) from [pc]
5. Fig 11.9a from [ww]
6. Page 17 (Batha Museum, Fez, Morocco. Ceramic dish) from [castera]
7. Page 233 from [abas]
8. Page 25 (Morocco. Background to Quran) from [carey]

• Wade photo SPA 0424x
• Wade photo EPC 041
• V&A record Tile

• Tiling whose tile angles are a multiple of 45° and whose lengths are p+q*sqrt(2).

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