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The term originates from the French gargouille, originally "throat" or "gullet"; cf. Latin gurgulio, gula, gargula ("gullet" or "throat") and similar words derived from the root gar, "to swallow", which represented the gurgling sound of water (e.g., Spanish garganta, "throat"; Spanish g‡rgola, "gargoyle").
It is also connected to the French verb gargariser, which means "to gargle."
The Italian word for gargoyle is doccione o gronda sporgente, an architecturally precise phrase which means "protruding gutter."
The German word for gargoyle is Wasserspeier, which means "water spewer."
The Dutch word for gargoyle is waterspuwer, which means "water spitter" or "water vomiter."
A building that has gargoyles on it is "gargoyled."
Gargoyles, many of them appear with wings, are said to scare off and protect from any evil or harmful spirits.
In Ancient Egyptian architecture, gargoyles showed little variation, typically in the form of a lion's head.
Similar lion-mouthed water spouts were also seen on Greek temples, carved or modeled in the marble or terracotta cymatium of the cornice.
Many medieval cathedrals included gargoyles and chimeras. The most famous examples are those of Notre Dame de Paris.
Although most have grotesque features, the term gargoyle has come to include all types of images.
Some gargoyles were depicted as monks, or combinations of real animals and people, many of which were humorous.
Both ornamented and unornamented water spouts projecting from roofs at parapet level were a common device used to shed rainwater from buildings until the early eighteenth century.
From that time, more and more buildings employed downpipes to carry the water from the guttering at roof level to the ground and only very few buildings using gargoyles were constructed.
In 1724, the London Building Act passed by the Parliament of Great Britain made the use of downpipes compulsory on all new construction.
Gargoyles were viewed two ways by the church throughout history:
Often gargoyles were used to assist the Church in conveying messages to the common people.
Due to literacy being uncommon, images were the best way to constantly convey ideas.
Gargoyles were used as a representation of evil. It is thought that they were used to scare people into coming to church, reminding them that the end of days is near.
It is also thought that their presence assured congregants that evil is kept outside of the churchÕs walls.
However, some medieval clergy viewed gargoyles as a form of idolatry.
Animal Gargoyles:
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Etruscans and Romans all used animal-shaped waterspouts.
During the 12th century, when gargoyles appeared in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was growing stronger and converting many new people.
Some animals (such as the rhinoceros and the hippopotamus) were unknown in western Europe during the Middle Ages so gargoyles of these species (such as the ones at Laon Cathedral) are modern gargoyles and therefore did not have symbolic meaning in Medieval times.
Below is a list of some animals commonly used as gargoyles:
Lion, Dog, Wolf, Eagle, Snake, ....., Goat, Monkey, ...
19th and 20th Centuries
Although not designed to drain water and therefore technically not gargoyles, the grotesques on modern structures are still considered by most people to be gargoyles.
Gargoyles can be found on many churches and other buildings.
One extensive collection of modern gargoyles can be found in Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The cathedral, begun in 1908, is encrusted with the limestone demons. This collection also includes Darth Vader, a crooked politician, robots and many other modern spins on the ancient tradition.
The 20th Century collegiate form of the Gothic Revival produced many modern gargoyles, notably at Princeton University, Washington University in St. Louis, Duke University, and the University of Chicago.
Note:
Grotesques are often confused with gargoyles, but the distinction is that gargoyles are figures that contain a water spout through the mouth, while grotesques do not.
This type of sculpture is also called a chimera. Used correctly, the term gargoyle refers to mostly eerie figures carved specifically as terminations to spouts which convey water away from the sides of buildings.
In the Middle Ages, the term babewyn was used to refer to both gargoyles and grotesques. This word is derived from the Italian word babuino, which means "baboon".
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Mhd.Shadi Khudr's insight:
"The gargoyle often makes his perch
On a cathedral or a church
Where, mid eclesiastic style
He smiles an early Gothic smile"
Oliver Herford
http://bit.ly/1bgyhyB
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