\u2014\u00a0\u00c9mile M\u00e2le<\/strong><\/p>\n Burgos Cathedral (Spain)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In previous posts we’ve seen what gargoyles<\/a> are and what categories <\/a>they fall into. But, leaving aside their function as a water drainage<\/a> spout, what symbolism<\/a> do images of gargoyles have? What’s meant by all those strange and disturbing creatures we see decorating gutters?<\/p>\n A number of historians and authors in other disciplines have put forward different theories on the symbolic meaning of gargoyles. Let’s take a look at the most interesting ones.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first theory is that of attributing a protective function to gargoyles, what Gombrich calls apotropaic, and this is what talked about when we looked at expressiveness<\/a>. As we said back then, this idea of creatures protecting buildings or entrances like a talisman or guardian warding off evil had already existed since Antiquity<\/a> (the Egyptian Sphinx, Assyrian bulls, temples in Asia and pre-Colombian America, etc.).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\t\t![\"g\u00e1rgolas](\"https:\/\/doloresherrero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/burgos-11.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nGargoyles and Their Symbolic Functions: Theories and Interpretations Through Time<\/h2>\n
Protective Function: The Apotropaic Power of Gargoyles<\/h3>\n