What is a gargoyle?
A gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building. On the other hand, sculptures which don’t work as waterspouts and serve only an ornamental function are called chimeras, or a grotesque figures. Laypersons usually also call them gargoyles, although architecture usually distincts between gargoyles (functional waterspouts) and non-waterspout grotesques.
The term originates from the French gargouille, originally “throat” or “gullet”; Latin gurgulio, gula, and similar words derived from the root gar, “to swallow”, which represented the gurgling sound of water (e.g., Spanish garganta, “throat”; Spanish gárgola, “gargoyle”).
The gargoyles on the Notre Dame
The gargoyles and grotesques that live on the notre dame de paris are probably the most widely recognised in the world, and with good reason. when built in the 13th century, this cathedral was without gargoyles of any kind – it was only when the incredible building was restored in the 19th century that the monsters of Victor Pyanet were designed and given their now-famous seats. Every single gargoyle and grotesque has been given its own character.
One Comment
Ja ist schon fasznierend, wie Notre Dame so mitten in der stadt auf einer kleinen halbinsel in der Seine thront..:) hat auf jeden fall magische anziehungskraft
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