This video introduces a new typology within the iconographic study of gargoyles: mythological animals. These figures, which include creatures such as dragons, griffins, and chimeras, draw on both classical and medieval sources and frequently embody symbolic meanings that go beyond the natural world. Their presence in medieval architecture reflects a complex interplay between folklore, theological allegory, and artistic imagination, contributing to the rich symbolic language of ecclesiastical sculpture.
Doctor of Art History and researcher specializing in the study of gargoyles.
I am Dolores Herrero Ferrio, and my thesis, “An Approach to the Study of Gargoyles of Gothic Cathedrals in Castilla and León”, is dedicated to the study of these fascinating figures.
If you like gargoyles and art history, you will also enjoy my book, “The Gargoyle and Its Iconography,” a book I have written with great care for those interested in the world of gargoyles.
I have created my own Encyclopedia of Gargoyles, a Gargopedia to share with you, where you will discover all the secrets and wonders of these enigmatic sculptures.
I hope you enjoy this Gargopedia as much as I have enjoyed creating it, and remember that each gargoyle has a story to tell, and here you will discover them all.
