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Gargoyles are decorative waterspouts found primarily in Medieval Christian architecture. Gargoyles can be carvings of humans or animals, but most famously, gargoyles can also be in the form of monstrous creatures.

In modern fantasy, gargoyles are imagined as ferocious monsters that have stony skin or that turn to stone during the day.

Etymology[]

The name originates from the French gargouille, which likely means "throat/gullet" or "to swallow" which represented the gurgling sound of water.

Architectural Function[]

Notre-Dame Rzygacze

Gargoyles mounted on the Notre Dame

In architecture, a gargoyle is a stone-carved guardian mounted on the sides of buildings. With a spout design to convey water from a roof and away from the side of the building to prevent water from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. Architects often used multiple gargoyles on buildings to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimize the potential damage from a rainstorm.

Protectors or Monsters?[]

Despite their frightening appearance, Gargoyles are guardians who are known to protect buildings from evil spirits, and do no harm to humans. Due to this, churches, which were considered holy places, often had these creatures on the roof to ward off the devil and demons.

Modern Depictions[]

In modern fantasy, gargoyles are magical creatures that can come to life, and can be found in a wide range of media from literature, to comics, films, television, video games and tabletop games. These fantasy gargoyles are typically depicted as evil beings, though depictions of good gargoyles exist as well.

Literature[]

  • Gargoyles also appear in the Discworld universe, such as Constable Downspout in Feet of Clay.

Film & Animation[]

  • In the TV series Gargoyles (1994–1997) by Disney, gargoyles are nocturnal creatures that battle other monsters to protect humanity.
  • They appear in the Doctor Who episode "The Daemons" (1971).
  • In The Horn of Vapula (1932) a demon familiar is bound into a horned and goatlike gargoyle.

Games[]

  • Gargoyles are a type of monster found in Dungeons & Dragons.

Gallery[]

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