Definition: The term "Alhambra" refers to a fortress or palace in Mesoamerican culture that was located in what is now Ecuador, during the Preclassic period between about 700 BCE and 350 BCE. The Alhambra was built by the Aztec Empire as their royal capital until it fell from their control around AD 1636. The name "Alhambra" has roots in the Spanish word "alma," meaning a fortress or palace, derived from the Aztecs' designation of the area above ground and below the earth (the Alhambre). The term is also cognate with the French words "Almanaque" (the "calendar") and "Alhambra," a reference to their famous citadel. The building's size and scale in comparison to other Aztec monuments often makes it an architectural marvel. The walls of this fortress are covered in intricate carvings, while its interior displays works of art from ancient civilizations in many different forms.