The earliest forms of gargoyle were found in
Ancient Egyptian architecture
and were typically in the form of a lion’s head. Similar features were also carved in the marble cornices of Greek temples. However, gargoyles are most commonly associated with the Gothic and Medieval architecture from the Middle Ages.
Who made the first gargoyle?
According to
French architect and author Eugène Viollet-le-Duc
, himself one of the great producers of gargoyles in the 19th century, the earliest known medieval gargoyles appear on Laon Cathedral (c. 1200–1220). One of the more famous examples is the gargoyles of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Where does the gargoyle originate from?
Gargoyles were originally designed
in 13th century French architecture
as a means of disposing of water. Think of them as the precursor to the gutter. Typically, a trough was cut into the back of the gargoyle and the rainwater was able to run off of the roof and through the gargoyle’s mouth.
When were gargoyles created?
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.
What is the oldest gargoyle?
But the oldest gargoyle is found on a building in Turkey. It’s
13,000 years old
and looks like a crocodile. The ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks also carved gargoyles to use as drain spouts on their buildings. And gargoyles became very popular on churches in Europe during the 1200s.
What is the most famous gargoyle?
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris
Perhaps the most well-known gargoyles in the world hover on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Technically known as grotesques (true gargoyles have waterspouts as mouths), these monstrous creatures glare ominously down on the City of Light.
What animal is a gargoyle?
Ancient Egyptians usually created gargoyles in the shape of
a lion’s head
. Other popular animal gargoyles were dogs, wolves, eagles, snakes, goats, and monkeys. Over the years, many other types of creatures have been used as gargoyles.
Why are gargoyles on Catholic churches?
The Catholic Church’s primary use of the gargoyle was
to illustrate evil
. The church wanted to convey a realistic image of the possibility of a damned afterlife. The Gothic idea was one of pain and suffering and the buildings loomed over the citizens in a romantically dramatic cloud.
Why are there gargoyles on Notre Dame?
The gargoyles’ main purpose is
very practical
. As rain water runs down the roofs of Notre-Dame de Paris, it needs to drain off without dripping down the walls and potentially damaging them. By evacuating rain water, the gargoyles protect the cathedral and protect the stone from damage caused by excessive runoff.
Why do Gothic churches have gargoyles?
Gargoyles are decorative, monstrous little creatures, perched at along the roofs and battlements of gothic buildings and castles. Gargoyles have a practical purpose:
they’re spouts, enabling rainwater to drain off the roof and gush through their mouths
, before plummeting to the ground.
Are there good gargoyles?
When not constructed as a waterspout and only serving an ornamental or artistic function, the correct term for such a sculpture is a grotesque, chimera, or boss. Just as with bosses and chimeras, gargoyles are said to
protect what
they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits.
What does a gargoyle symbolize?
In any case, gargoyles were used as symbols, and could be interpreted in many ways. They could have represented
the souls condemned for their sins
, whom was therefore the entrance to church forbidden. The price for sinning, although they were spared from eternal damnation, would be to be turned to stone.
Did gargoyles really exist?
“Gargoyles” as we know them—the ominous stone monsters—are a feature of Gothic architecture and didn’t become popular until around the
13th century
, and they started out not as protectors for Scottish castles but as decorations for churches, beginning in France … for gutters.
Are gargoyles bad luck?
“People come in and think they (gargoyles) are scary, but they’re not. … But gargoyles are intended to be just a little bit scary. Superstition has long held that the grotesque stone
figures frightened away evil spirits
.
What is gargoyle in Harry Potter?
Gargoyles are
a semi-sentient stone creatures used as guards for rooms in Hogwarts
. A stone gargoyle blocks the entrance to the Head’s Office. It steps aside when the correct password is given to enter (CS11). A stone gargoyle is used as a water spout in the Potions dungeon (PA17).
Which Cathedral has a gargoyle in the shape of Darth Vader?
The Darth Vader grotesque is a limestone grotesque by Jay Hall Carpenter. It is located at
the Washington National Cathedral
, Northwest, Washington, D.C., United States. The Darth Vader grotesque is one of many grotesques that are part of the National Cathedral’s rain control system.
