![]() ![]() Gargoyles are instantly recognizable, grotesque, carved creatures peering down from the tops of churches and cathedrals.ġ3. Gargoyles: The grotesque carved creatures of Christian architecture were borrowed from ancient pagan religions. Others think that scary gargoyles were placed on churches to remind people that there is evil in the world, so they should enter the church often and live a good life.ĭespite their strengths, gargoyles’ weaknesses include: proximity (cannot fly too far from their posts), and sunlight (turn into stone when exposed to the sun’s rays). Some think that the gargoyles’ angry faces were meant to scare away evil spirits and protect the building. Some winged gargoyles fly around town to defend the city. Do gargoyles come to life?ĪS MYTHICAL CREATURES Inspired by the architectural element, gargoyles are stone-like supernatural creatures by day, known to fend off evil spirits and other harmful creatures. ![]() What was the purpose of grotesques on churches?ĭuring the Middles Ages, the Catholic Church used grotesques on their churches to tell the populace through the images how faith would protect them. The precise purpose of gargoyles was to act as a spout to convey water from the upper part of a building or roof gutter and away from the side of walls or foundations, thereby helping to prevent water from causing damage to masonry and mortar. The church wanted to convey a realistic image of the possibility of a damned afterlife. The Catholic Church’s primary use of the gargoyle was to illustrate evil. In Ancient Egyptian architecture, gargoyles were prominently sculpted in the form of a lion’s head. Gargoyles have been used throughout the ages. ![]()
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