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Gargoyles<\/a> are not only fascinating sculptural elements\u2014they also serve a crucial purpose within architectural structures. In this introductory article, we explain what a gargoyle is, its function as a water spout, and the role these sculptures played in medieval architecture. This is an essential starting point to understand their artistic value as works of art, their technical function as drainage elements, and their significance as historical heritage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This blog is dedicated to gargoyles\u2014those magnificent, majestic sculptures perched on medieval buildings, silently observing us from above across the centuries. They are, at once, marvels of engineering and remarkable artistic creations.<\/p>\n Who doesn\u2019t love gargoyles? Very few people are indifferent to them. Most are drawn to their presence. Every time we pass a building adorned with gargoyles, we instinctively look upward. These fantastic and captivating figures never fail to intrigue passersby in streets and squares.<\/p>\n While originally functional, many gargoyles have become ornamental over time\u2014either due to weathering and disuse or because new drainage systems have been installed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n These are some of the most common questions people ask\u2014questions we will explore throughout this blog.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When undertaking a study or research on gargoyles, it’s essential to define this term. Although it may seem obvious, the word gargoyles<\/em> is frequently used to refer to all kinds of creatures decorating the walls of buildings, and because they depict the same sorts of figures as gargoyles, they’re all included in the same description.<\/p>\n The Oxford dictionary defines the gargoyle as \u201ca grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall\u201d. This definition clearly explains what gargoyles are, so any figure of a monster, animal, demon, etc. decorating a wall is not a gargoyle if it doesn’t have a spout to drain water through. These depictions placed on buildings aren’t gargoyles for drainage, they’re decorative images, sometimes known as chimera or grotesques, like the ones by Viollet-le-Duc on Notre Dame in Paris.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n\t\tFrom Water Spout to Work of Art<\/span><\/h2>\n
Frequently Asked Questions About Gargoyles<\/span><\/h2>\n
\u2022 What are gargoyles?<\/h3>\n
\u2022 What is the origin of gargoyles?<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2022 What is their function or meaning?<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2022 What kinds of figures do gargoyles depict?<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2022 Where can gargoyles be found?<\/h3>\n
\u2022 Who created gargoyles?<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2022 Are gargoyles demons?<\/a> Why do some depict demonic figures?<\/a><\/h3>\n
\u2022 What do the gargoyles of Notre Dame symbolize?<\/h3>\n
Our Journey Begins: What Is a Gargoyle?<\/span><\/h2>\n