This video concludes the segment dedicated to the representation of real animals within gargoyle typologies. These figures—ranging from lions and dogs to birds and other recognizable species—reflect both naturalistic observation and symbolic function. Their use in medieval architecture served to connect the familiar world with spiritual teachings, embodying qualities such as vigilance, loyalty, or sin. The recurrence of real animals in ecclesiastical sculpture also reveals the influence of bestiaries and the didactic role of visual narratives in sacred spaces.
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.
