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Gargoyle. In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle (/ ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl /) is a carved or formed grotesque [1]: 6–8 with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between.
Gargoyles are typically made of stone and are often used as architectural features on buildings. Variations Across Cultures. Gargoyles have been depicted in various ways throughout history and across different cultures. In some cultures, they are seen as protectors of buildings and are often depicted as fierce creatures with sharp claws and teeth.
- Gargoyles are there for a reason. When gargoyles began appearing on churches throughout Europe in the 13th century, they served as decorative water spouts, engineered to preserve stone walls by diverting the flow of rainwater outward from rooftops.
- The name comes from a dragon-slaying legend. The word gargoyle derives from the French gargouille, meaning “throat.” This would appear to take its inspiration from the sculptures’ water-siphoning gullets, but in fact the name comes from the French legend of La Gargouille, a fearsome dragon that terrorized the inhabitants of the city of Rouen.
- Gargoyles were meant to inspire fear in churchgoers. Placing gargoyles on a church’s exterior reinforced the idea that evil dwelled outside the church, while salvation could be found within.
- Church leaders hoped gargoyles would also attract pagans. Churches would also model gargoyles after the creatures worshipped by pagan tribes, thinking this would make their houses of worship appear more welcoming to them.
Dec 31, 2020 · Yet another example of this modern take on gargoyles is the Chapel of Bethlehem, a French church from the Middle Ages. By the 1990s it was in ruins, and when it was restored the stone mason tasked with sculpting new gargoyles made the unusual decision to base the new gargoyles on modern fictional creatures.
Aug 30, 2024 · gargoyle, in architecture, waterspout designed to drain water from the parapet gutter. Originally the term referred only to the carved lions of classical cornices or to terra-cotta spouts, such as those found in the Roman structures at Pompeii. The word later became restricted mainly to the grotesque, carved spouts of the European Middle Ages.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 28, 2020 · Gargoyles were initially made to go at the end of water spouts in Gothic churches (and yes, some castles) in the middle ages. They served a practical and artistic purpose. The word “gargoyle ...
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Gargoyles are often depicted as winged creatures with the body of a lion or a dragon and the head of a grotesque human or animal. They are usually portrayed as having sharp teeth, horns, claws, and wings. Gargoyles are typically made of stone and can be found on the roofs and walls of buildings, especially in medieval architecture.
