The cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris features some the world's most famous gargoyles.
The image of a horned, bat-winged, grimacing monster carved from stone and lurking on the rooftop of a Gothic cathedral has been an icon of the menacing and mysterious for centuries. But the primary role of these scary sculptures was often simply to act as a piece of humble plumbing.
History and Legend
The reason that gargoyles -- grotesque sculptures depicting monsters and devils -- became a popular architectural element is lost in history, but several theories offer possible explanations. The name of the sculpture comes from the French word "gargouille," which refers not only to the stone beasts themselves but also to a throaty gurgling, almost certainly an allusion to the gargoyle's role as a waterspout. Gargoyles on ancient buildings may have been intended to scare away evil forces or to instill awe in visitors to temples. It's likely that gargoyles were incorporated into Christian church architecture as a way to encourage pagans to embrace the new religion.
Practical Gargoyles
Whatever the reason for their grotesque forms, early gargoyles had a very down-to-earth function. Rainwater running off the roofs of temples and other buildings adorned with gargoyles was funneled through channels that emerged from the mouths of the statues. These monstrous waterspouts directed runoff away from the walls of the building, keeping the water from falling down on the heads of people below and from damaging the walls and foundation of the building.
Gothic Gargoyles
In the middle ages, gargoyles made a reappearance in the great Gothic cathedrals of Europe. The sculptures were part of the buildings' overall lavish ornamentation, and they often fulfilled their historic role of controlling water runoff. Some gargoyles, however, simply perched on cornices and rooflines, gazing down malevolently on the world below. These gargoyles might have been references to old pagan religions intended to make new converts to Christianity comfortable with their new religion; and they might also have been intended to make Christianity seem comforting and friendly by contrast.
American Gargoyles
Architectural interest in gargoyles arose again at the end of the 19th century as the Gothic Revival style emerged in America. University buildings incorporated gargoyles into their stone architecture, and the Washington National Cathedral, which began construction in 1907, included gargoyles in its design. The Chrysler Building, an Art Deco skyscraper built in New York City in 1930, features gargoyles rendered in stainless steel.
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