Gargoyles

A gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque (sculpture), usually made of granite.

Gargoyles often are combinations of real animals and people, many of which are humorous.

Gargoyles have a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. One belief is that gargoyles also served as protectors, keeping evil away from the buildings and their occupants.

A trough is cut in the back of the gargoyle and rainwater typically exits through the open mouth

The word gargoyle is connected to the French verb gargariser, which means "to gargle”

Gargoyles can be traced back 4000 years to Egypt, Rome and Greece Gargoyles can be traced back 4000 years to Egypt, Rome and Greece. Water spouts depicting: lions, eagles, and other creatures, including those based on Greek and Roman mythology, were very common. Gargoyle water spouts were even found at the ruins of Pompeii.

Gargoyles became very popular in the medieval times (1200-

Here is the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France It is known for it’s many gargoyles

Although the first gargoyles were made out of wood, later gargoyles were usually carved from limestone or marble, and sometimes lead. Gargoyles were carved on the ground, from a clay model, and then placed in position. They were often painted, but the paint on old gargoyles still surviving today has either been worn off or been removed.

In later times, most of them became mainly ornamental and served no other purpose than decoration.