Script

Map (Haoyu Zhao)

Greetings everyone, this is Group 9. My name is Haoyu Zhao, and I am joined by my group

members Anam, Leviuus, Rebecca, and Sofia. Our chosen topic is "The Story of a Traveler."

This tale revolves around a Muslim traveler who is going to complete his pilgrimage in Spain

along Camino de Santiago, one of the most significant Christian pilgrimages during the late

Middle Ages.1 If you have noticed the map of Andalus, you may find that even at the peak of

Islamic rule, the northernmost region of Spain remained under Christian control. As shown

on the map, European Christians selected various routes in this region to reach the city of

Santiago de Compostela.

Our traveler, driven by his deep interest in Islamic Spanish history, chooses an

unconventional route known as the Via de la Plata. Starting from the southern city of Seville

and reaching the northern city of Santiago de Compostela, this 700-kilometer-long route

mirrors the path of Islamic expansion in Spain after the 7th century. Most cities along the

way were once under Islamic rule and developed for hundreds of years.

Let's together with our traveler, starting from Seville, pathing through Badajoz and León,

finally to Santiago. By exploring renowned monuments and relics, and eventually uncovering

the historical interplay between Islam and Christianity.

Real Alcazar- (Rebecca Zhang)

1
Murray, Michael. “The Cultural Heritage of Pilgrim Itineraries: The Camino De Santiago.” Journeys 15, no. 2
(2014). https://doi.org/10.3167/jys.2014.150204.
 HE has long heard of this historic city, Real Alcázar ， There are The Seville

Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, a must-see attraction with its ornate

interior and a famous bell tower known as La Giralda. The Plaza de España is a beautiful

public square surrounded by a canal, and the nearby Maria Luisa Park is a popular spot for

strolling, picnicking, and admiring the various sculptures and fountains. But what he wants to

do most today is Real Alcázar，a palace complex with a mix of architectural styles including

Islamic, Gothic, and Renaissance. WHY ？As he was casually browsing the internet some

time ago, he stumbled upon a post about his favorite show, Game of Thrones, which

mentioned that:

Real Alcázar, with its intricate architecture and stunning gardens, served as the

filming location for several scenes in the popular television series "Game of Thrones." 2 Fans

of the show can recognize several parts of the palace, such as the Courtyard of the Maidens 3,

which was used as the location for the Water Gardens of Dorne in the show. The palace's

intricate tilework, ornate carvings, and lush gardens also served as the backdrop for several

other scenes, including the palace of the Prince of Dorne 4 and the Tower of the Hand5. The

inclusion of Real Alcázar in the series has led to an increased interest in the palace as a tourist

attraction, as fans of the show flock to see the locations where some of their favorite scenes

were filmed.

As he entered the palace, he was drawn to most notable features ， the Patio de las

Doncellas6, a courtyard with beautiful arches and intricate tilework, and the Salón de

Embajadores7, a grand hall with a magnificent golden dome. Even Though this place build

2
Franza, Karen, Sevilla: The Real Alcazar or the Water Gardens of Dorne, 2017
3
Franza, Karen, Sevilla: The Real Alcazar or the Water Gardens of Dorne, 2017
4
Franza, Karen, Sevilla: The Real Alcazar or the Water Gardens of Dorne, 2017
5
Franza, Karen, Sevilla: The Real Alcazar or the Water Gardens of Dorne, 2017
6
Blasco-López, Plasterwork in the Ambassadors Hall (Salón de Embajadores) of the Real Alcázar of Seville
(Spain): Graphic reconstruction of polychrome work by layer characterization, p9
7
Blasco-López, Plasterwork in the Ambassadors Hall (Salón de Embajadores) of the Real Alcázar of Seville
(Spain): Graphic reconstruction of polychrome work by layer characterization, p8
during the period of Islamic rule in the region, it incorporates many architectural features. But

what he found most obvious were the architectural features of Islam for example he saw

horseshoe arches in the courtyards and entrance halls, which were a common feature of

Islamic architecture. The gardens at Real Alcázar8 also reflect the influence of Islamic

architecture. The use of water features, fountains, and courtyards arranged in a geometric

pattern are all features that were common in Islamic gardens. During the Islamic rule in

Spain, gardens were an important part of the culture and were often designed as a

representation of paradise. He also noticed the use of these tiles in the courtyards and bathing

areas which called “intricate tilework, known as azulejos”9, were also commonly used in

Islamic architecture. All of this made him even more interested in the Islamic features of the

fusion style complex, and he couldn't wait to get to the next leg of the journey.

Alcazaba of Badajoz (Leviuus)

He has arrived in the city of Badajoz, in western Spain, to look at a heritage site known as

The Alcazaba of Badajoz. It is significant to the Islamic history because of its impressive

architecture and strategic location.

It was founded by Abd-al Rahman Ibn Marwan in 87510, constructed on a hill overlooking the

Guadiana River.11 It was designed to protect the city from enemy attacks. Over the centuries,

the Alcazaba was expanded and renovated, with various rulers adding their own touches to

the structure.

8
Pérez-Urrestarazu, Water management assessment in a historic garden: the case study of the Real Alcazar
(Seville, Spain), p193
9
Blasco-López, Plasterwork in the Ambassadors Hall (Salón de Embajadores) of the Real Alcázar of Seville
(Spain): Graphic reconstruction of polychrome work by layer characterization, p22
10
Alcazaba: Portal Web Del Ayuntamiento De Badajoz
11
“Badajoz.” Spain.info
Today, the Alcazaba of Badajoz is one of the largest and best-preserved Moorish fortresses in

Spain. It consists of a series of walls, towers, and gates, along with several palaces,

courtyards, and gardens.

In addition to its historical and architectural significance, the Alcazaba of Badajoz is also a

popular tourist destination and cultural center. It hosts various events throughout the year,

including concerts, exhibitions, and festivals.

Textile from the Reliquary of Saint John the Baptist (Anam)

Our pilgrim has now set foot in Leon to witness a well-known textile from the

reliquary of John the Baptist at the Museum of the Real Collegiata de San Isidora. Textiles, as

we know, add to our understanding of history as they are considered evidence or rather,

fragile remnants of the past. The method of investigation used to characterize the materials of

historical textiles allows our pilgrim to understand the material reality of the textile belonging

to John the Baptist. Our pilgrim is examining a silk samite (a fabric consisting of a six thread

array) that lines the casket of St. John the Baptist. The decoration is organized in bands with

vine scrolls enclosing different animals (griffins and possibly hawks), paired animals (hares

on one side and ducks and birds on the other) and between them a narrow epigraphic band

and a wider red band that has medallions and vegetal motifs. The broad red band and its

patterning is referred to as a incised silk, a term coined by Martiniani-Reber, and is dated

from the eleventh century onwards. The added details in the silk samite suggest that the

predators appear above their prey and that the repeated inscription along the red band reads

“izz limawlana almalk” which translates to “Glory to our Lord, the King”.12
12
Cabrera Lafuente, Ana. “Textiles from the Museum of San Isidoro (León): New Evidence for Re-Evaluating Their
Chronology and Provenance.” Medieval Encounters : Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Culture in Confluence and Dialogue
2019, no. 1-2 (2019): 59–95. https://doi.org/10.1163/15700674-12340039.
 Much of this silk samite textile can be compared to the highly accomplished silks of

Al-Andalus. It was the centre of silk production. Their vibrantly woven silk was considered a

luxury commodity sought after by the Muslim and Christian elites on the Iberian Peninsula

and far beyond its borders. Among their silk designs were fanciful vegetal motifs in

symmetrical pattern, sophisticated geometric pattern, medallions with bands of Arabic and

qur’anic inscriptions. Wealthy buyers in Christian territories highly prized these textiles even

with the Arabic inscriptions. A famous example of this is the Almohad wall hanging known

as Las Navas del Tolosa banner dated between 1212 and 1250 CE- a battle trophy won by the

Castillions. The Andalusian textile artisans weaving and embroidery embellishments were

often seen in palaces, their ecclesiastical weaving became an integral part of royal

households.13

After examining this silk samite that lines the casket of St.John the Baptist, our

pilgrim takes note and attests to the fruitful exchange that took place between religions and

cultures before moving on to the last part of his journey.

Souvenir

Finally, because no journey is complete without a souvenir, our traveller will stop at the

Corticela gift shop in Santiago de Compostela, which is right across the street from the

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and the end of each of the Camino’s routes. In the shop,

he spends three euros on a metal paper weight in the shape of a scallop holding the Santiago

Cathedral with St. James in front of it. 14 While this paper weight is not ornately crafted or

economically valuable and may even be dismissed as tacky, it speaks to the nature of making

Martin, Therese. The Medieval Iberian Treasury in the Context of Cultural Interchange (Expanded Edition), (Leiden, The
13

Netherlands: Brill, 16 Nov. 2020) doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004424593

14
“Souvenir Vieira With Santiago Cathedral.” Souvenir Corticela. Accessed April 2, 2023.
http://www.souvenircorticela.es/metal/10-vieira-con-catedral.html.
the pilgrimage to Santiago, specifically of being part of a historical collective while also

digging deep into your personal motivations.

Souvenirs at the Santiago de Compostela date to the 11th century, when pilgrims

would be given a scallop shell badge upon completion of their pilgrimage. These shells were

associated with St. James and were considered extremely prized possessions because they

were proof that their owners had completed a difficult and dangerous journey. Many 12th-

century people from Spain, England, and Germany were even found to have been buried with

these shells placed on prominent places on their bodies.15

15
Peter Yeoman. “An Archaeology of Pilgrimage.” In The Oxford Handbook of Later Medieval Archaeology in
Britain. Oxford University Press, 2018: 641–657.https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198744719.013.27, 648,
654.
 Bibliography

“Alcazaba: Portal Web Del Ayuntamiento De Badajoz.” aytobadajoz.es. Ayuntamiento de

Badajoz. Accessed April 3, 2023.

https://www.aytobadajoz.es/es/ayto/monumentos/alcazaba.

“Badajoz.” Spain.info. Accessed April 2, 2023.

https://www.spain.info/en/destination/badajoz/.

Murray, Michael. “The Cultural Heritage of Pilgrim Itineraries: The Camino De Santiago.”

Journeys, vol. 15, no. 2, 2014, https://doi.org/10.3167/jys.2014.150204.

Amaro, Suzanne, Angela Antunes, and Carla Henriques. “A Closer Look at Santiago de

Compostela’s Pilgrims through the Lens of Motivations.” Tourism Management

(1982) 64 (2018): 271–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.09.007.

Blasco-López, F.J., F.J. Alejandre, V. Flores-Alés, and I. Cortés. "Plasterwork in the

Ambassadors Hall (Salón de Embajadores) of the Real Alcázar of Seville (Spain):

Graphic reconstruction of polychrome work by layer characterization." Construction &

Building Materials 107 (2016): 332-340. doi:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.181.

Cabrera Lafuente, Ana. “Textiles from the Museum of San Isidoro (León): New Evidence for

Re-Evaluating Their Chronology and Provenance.” Medieval Encounters : Jewish,

Christian, and Muslim Culture in Confluence and Dialogue 2019, no. 1-2 (2019): 59–95.

https://doi.org/10.1163/15700674-12340039.
Franza, Karen. "Sevilla: The Real Alcazar or the Water Gardens of Dorne." Karen Franza's

Travel Blog, 9 April 2017, https://karenfranza2014.com/2017/04/09/sevilla-the-real-

alcazar-or-the-water-gardens-of-dorne/.

Martin, Therese, and Therese Martin. The Medieval Iberian Treasury in the Context of

Cultural Interchange (Expanded Edition). Expanded Edition. Leiden: Brill, 2020.

https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004424593.

Pérez-Urrestarazu, Luis, Gregorio Egea, Cecilia Ruiz-Alcalá, Fuensanta Roldán-Olmo, and

Rafael Fernández-Cañero. "Water management assessment in a historic garden: the case

study of the Real Alcazar (Seville, Spain)." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 29

(2018): 192-199. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.11.019.

Rosser-Owen, Mariam. “Islamic Objects in Christian Contexts: Relic Translation and Modes

of Transfer in Medieval Iberia.” Art in Translation 7, no. 1 (2015): 39–63.

https://doi.org/10.2752/175613115X14235644692275.