Alhambra, Sala del Mexuar

The pattern concerned is part of a large ceramic mosaic dado occupying the whole of the north wall of the Sala del Mexuar each side of the entrance to the Mexuar Oratory, and the northernmost parts of the east and west walls. Continuity is interrupted on the west wall by the most northerly window opening on to the Machuca garden, and on the east wall by the exit to the Mexuar Patio.

• Growth dynamic build of this pattern.
• Random dynamic build of this pattern.
• Structured dynamic build of this pattern.
• The symmetry group of the tiling is *442 (p4m).
• All the internal angles of the constituent polygons are a multiple of 22.5°.
• Contains one regular 8-pointed star polygon with vertex angle of 90°.
• Contains one regular 16-pointed star polygon with vertex angle of 45°.
• There are 8 non-regular reflective tiles (including 2 kites).
• The tiling satisfies the interlace condition and has one finite interlace and one infinite interlace with straight cross-overs.
• The tiling is edge-to-edge.
• As drawn, contains about 841 polygons.

1. Page 297, Fig 185b (Imam al-Shafi'i, Cairo, Egypt) from [bonner] (1211AD, 607AH)
2. Photo by David Wade: SPA 1917 (Alhambra, Sala del Mexuar, Spain) from [wadei] (1232-1417AD, 629-820AH)
3. British Museum 1896,1120.3 (Seville, Spain) from [pc]
4. E.1685-1912 (England. Design for ceiling decoration) from [vami]
5. Fig 8.3 from [ww]
6. Figure 1.7, page 20 from [abas]
7. Page 41 (Alhambra, Sala del Mexuar, Spain. North end) from [escher]
8. Vol 2, page 285 (Royal Palace, Fez, Morocco. Detail of door) from [paccard]
9. Vol 2, page 288 (Royal Palace, Marrakesh, Morocco. Detail of door) from [paccard]
10. Vol 2, page 398 (Dar Beida, Marrakesh, Morocco. Ceiling panel) from [paccard]

• Wade photo SPA 1917
• V&A record Design for ceiling...

• Escher's Alhambra tiling pattern

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