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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.
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.
While both types of Gothic sculpture are designed to scare, gargoyles also serve an architectural purpose: they double as waterspouts, catching and draining rainwater. These gurgling figures gained prominence in Medieval France, though earlier editions have existed in different cultures for centuries.
Dec 7, 2012 · Architects often designed buildings with multiple gargoyles to direct the flow of rainwater. Many gargoyles feature troughs cut into their backs to catch water. The water that's caught is usually directed out of the open mouth of the creature.
The gargoyles at Notre-Dame Cathedral have undergone several phases of restoration and conservation throughout their history. The cathedral's original gargoyles, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, suffered significant damage due to exposure to the elements and the passage of time.
Nov 21, 2023 · Gargoyles are stone creatures carved into buildings that serve as very ornate gutters, siphoning water from the building. They were created to ward off evil spirits and to symbolically warn...
Originally designed as spouts to drain water from buildings and gutters, now called gargoyles, [9] grotesques became a sculptural feature during the medieval period and their often-intricate designs developed alongside the gothic architecture period that took place in Europe from the 12th to the 16th century establishing a basis for ...
Gargoyles are waterspouts that are designed to throw rain water away from the outside wall of a building. Derived from the Old French gargouille, meaning throat, the term was first used to...
Oct 18, 2018 · Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is celebrated as one of the most exquisite examples of Gothic architecture. Here, we talk about one of its most famous features: its gargoyles and chimera, paying attention to the history and difference between these Notre Dame sculptures.
Gargoyles can be found in Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Roman and Ancient Greek architecture although they are most commonly associated with Medieval Gothic architecture. Ancient history, myths, legends and pagan religions abound with stories of frightening and fantastic creatures.
