Gargoyles – Glorious Gruesome Grotesques
Gargoyles – they are strange, bizarre, unpleasant or just plain ugly. They have been hovering around our towns and cities for centuries, for so long that it can be forgotten that they have meaning and purpose. Take a tour of the weird world of the gargoyle.
A gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque statue and they were designed to convey water away from the roof and the sides of large buildings although they were more purposeful than that. We associate them mostly with medieval times thanks to a certain hunchback but they have been around much longer than that. They are more than just scary statues as if they were not there then the mortar between the stones of their buildings would, in time, erode away and the building would fall over. Many gargoyles take the shape of animals and – lost to our modern minds – these creatures were chosen for a purpose. This is why.
The Lion
Both lions and their female counterparts were a favorite choice for the makers of gargoyles. Here at Dornoch cathedral in Scotland a lovely lioness leans and growls at passers by. The lion was by far the most popular non-European animal to be used on churches and cathedrals in the middle ages. They were popular as gargoyles during older times (Pompeii is full of them) and they had symbolised the sun, with the golden mane representing the solar wreath of our life giving star.
However, by medieval times, the builders of cathedrals would use the lion as a symbol of pride, which is of course one of the seven deadly sins and therefore to be avoided by the God fearing denizens of the towns below them. This one at the Collégiale Saint-Martin à Colmar, Haut-Rhin in France looks particularly proud. Other than lions you will not get many other felines represented on these centuries old monuments. Cats were symbols of witchcraft and so were avoided as gargoyles (although occasionally you may find a cat’s head attached to a serpent’s body).
The Dog
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68 Comments
anglopolish, posted this comment on Feb 7th, 2010
Wow ! I didn’t realized that gargoyles means vomiting creatures and i din’t know that gargoyles were used for rain water. I thougt that they were only decorations.
fred, posted this comment on Feb 7th, 2010
Plenty of those french gargoyles (the most known is the siting one on the top of tour St jacques in Paris) have been created from scratch by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the end of XIX century. Viollet-le-Duc was a gargoyle lover. Many of the medieval ones were too damaged to be even copied.
sandy r., posted this comment on Feb 8th, 2010
Ireland has Sheilanagigs that are a form of gargoyle but very sexually explicit of the female’s “private parts”. They were found at many medieval churches over doorways. They did not drain water away from buildings but they were similar grotesqueries like gargoyles.
Joseph, posted this comment on Feb 8th, 2010
Very interesting article. The National Cathedral in Washington DC has a gargoyle of Darth Vader. http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml
Gruffee, posted this comment on Feb 8th, 2010
One fascinating example of gargoyles is the Albert Memorial, in Kensington, London, opposite the Albert Hall. Queen Victoria, so it is said, enjoyed a splendid sex life with Albert, her consort, while he was alive, and if you stand at the base of his memorial, and look upwards, the impression is unmistakable that it sprouts phalluses in great profusion!
Pictures of the Albert Memorial at:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Albert_Memorial%2C_London_-_May_2008.jpg
Rafael Duarte, posted this comment on Feb 10th, 2010
Beautiful work. I thought gargoiles were always undefined beasts. I didn’t know there were known animals like lions, dogs, monkeys and wolves. And, most, humans (in such strange vogues!) Thank you for the great lesson.
Crisis Jokes, posted this comment on Feb 10th, 2010
Really interesting collection.
Thanks for the post!
CABEZA COLORADA, posted this comment on Feb 12th, 2010
MUY INTERESANTE HAY OCASIONES EN EDIFICIOS QUE NO LE DAMOS IMPORTANCIA A LO QUE A LOS ADORNAN
Jeffy, posted this comment on Mar 10th, 2010
Contrary to the opinions of other comment authors, this article is poorly written and misinformed. Neat pictures though!
JK Kristie, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
I have always find them to be scary and creepy looking. But the second to the last one is funny.
bailieman, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Excellent article, very informative and enjoyable. I would loved to have been in on the discussion when the architect was discussing with the clergy the idea for the lady’s bottom as an image.
sambhafusia, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
very informative article…tnx for sharing
B Nelson, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
I have always loved old castles and gargoyles, this link is one of the best I have seen in a long time!
Michael Eboh, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great share here. I really like the pics.
Glynis Smy, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Not a fan of gargoyles, they give me the creeps. Good article though.
Patrick Bernauw, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Mmm… I’m a Gargoyle Lover… and here are some really fine “grotesque pets”! Blogged them: http://historicalmysterywriter.blogspot.com/2010/02/gargoyles-glorious-gruesome-grotesques.html
Jenilia12, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Some interesting facts.
jambamkin, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great photo article, very informative and entertaining.
Wiggles18, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Gargoyles are cool, especially the ones from that 90’s cartoon; they were epic.
tutuffi, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Good article.Thanks for sharing
Gustavo Echeverrìa, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Es un articulo muy interesante como informativo sobre las gargolas, en Argentina, también las hay en alguna iglesias, por lo que me resulta interesante saber sobre ellas. .Gracias.
aqeelplanner, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
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postpunkpixie, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
I hate to split hairs, but techincally some of these are chimeras. “Gargolye” only refers to the figures that act as waterspouts, while “chimera” is a term for figures like the Notre Dame “thinker”.
Otherwise, great article.
Victor Arnet, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
this was a very interesting and informing article. excellent photographs with as well. i didnt know there were so many different gargoyle stautes.
Darla Smith, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great article with excellent pictures! Thanks for sharing.
nyxdiego, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
fascinant!!
deep blue, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Very interesting post. A hoard of history’s best sculptures with underlying legends.
GWitt, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Jesus this is an awsome article. Once again you nailed it…
Anuradha Ramkumar, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
I haven’t heard of Gargoyles. These are really amazing. Thanks for the share.
R J Evans, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Hey Post Punk PIxie
You are almost correct. The chimeras here are mostly (when accurately described) grotesques (as they lack the water feature as it were!). However, as almost universally they are known as gargoyles I felt justified in my inclusion – almost.
Lady Fantasy, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Fantastic article with equally fascinating pictures.Didnt know that figures of people or other animals could fit into this as well.
qasimdharamsy, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great Article…well written….
Lorna Dykstra, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Very interesting article.
AndAnotherThing, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
A gargoyle has a spout for water a grotesque does not – enjoyed the pictures though
nobert soloria bermosa, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
great work RJ, very nice as always…i think this is your longest post so far
apagung, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
they are must be scary at night, but in daylight very nice look
clickmarbin, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
what a nice discovery=)
Riter45, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Weird and come to think it, I just saw one.
cosmin1512, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
nice post
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TitanGM, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
interesing..
Scotcha, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
nice work looks great. thanks
ganeshgolha, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great share! Nice work, also give feedback to my work your valuable feedback will help me to improve my writing skills.
tytyty0062, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Really cool post like all the pictures just to think someone made those hundreds and the time it took to hand make that very cool. I dont think i have ever really seen one.
wuqingqingren, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great article with excellent pictures! Thanks for sharing.
kapil, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
nice content
100polish, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Nice reading and the pictures were interesting,
mamasaid, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Very interesting, I have a friend who loves gargoyles.
Snooky, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Interesting, entertaining and educational.
Great work
Pam Stushnoff, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Very interesting. I’ve wondered about the purpose of gargoyles but never took the time to pursue the topic. Thank you. The pictures really make the article.
singming12, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
cool
stevepiss, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Nice share
khadija52, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
your pictures are really wonderful & amazing too
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anita mardon, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
i love the pictures and thought it was an interesting read. always wondered what they had gorgoyals were for
overwings, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Brilliant. I always liked observing the gargoyles in old cathedrals. I specially like the ones showing people holding their mouths wide open with their hands. Sometimes you find things that look out of place in a religious building like devils or any kind, snails, or couples dancing.
Hombre blanco del santo, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Wow, those Chimera are damn ugly. My knowledge of gargoyles was pretty limited to Disney – until now.
Monsterrobot, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
You are Awesome! I can learn something new everyday here! All thanks to you! Thank you!
ranoryap, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
excellent!
parsi, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
hmmm..
Leonardo da Vinci E., posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Informative and interesting;Nice work.
teeray, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Fantastic photos to go with your content, R.J. Evans. Thanks for sharing this topic and these pictures. I’ll be linking to this article soon from some of my urban legend blogs and articles. This is great stuff you’ve shared.
Sharif Ishnin, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great history lesson on gargoyles. That was a very enjoyable read.
MartineP, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Great article. I always fancied those gargoyles. Nice info.
vijjus, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
such a nice article keep going on…..
Sarah Rich, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Very enjoyable read, and lovely pictures. Well, for the most part! A couple of those are decidedly.. interesting!
RS Wing, posted this comment on Mar 15th, 2010
Remarkable article with spectacular images. I did not realize there were so many different varieties with so many different definitions or purpose within the architecture. I have many and thought they were all meant to keep evil spirits or just plain evil away. Very interesting history and very well written.
Sam Rothstein, posted this comment on Feb 7th, 2010
An interesting and well written article, good work.
One point that you might want to clarify…while you’re strictly speaking correct in naming York Cathedral as the location for a Chimera it’s only really ever known as “York Minster” I’ve lived in York over 30 years and can count on one hand the number of times anyone has called it a cathedral.
I doubt even the Archbishop refers to it as “The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York” very often!