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In architecture, and specifically in Gothic architecture, a gargoyle (/ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/) is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between.
What does gargoyle symbolize?
Some think that the gargoyles’ angry faces were meant to scare away evil spirits and protect the building. 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.
What is a gargoyle in art?
A gargoyle is a grotesque that also acts as drain-spout. In art history, a grotesque is any fanciful figure reminiscent of those found painted on the walls of grottoes—or cave-like ruins—in Ancient Rome. Though they differ in function, both gargoyles and grotesques were intended to scare and protect.
What art is gargoyle sculpture?
Gothic sculpture, characterized by the representation of animals, both real and fantastic gave rise to gargoyles. These mythological representations, intentionally grotesque and ironic, have a practical architectural function: to drain water from the roofs of churches and cathedrals.
What are the design characteristics of a gargoyle?
Gargoyles are decorative, monstrous little creatures, perched at along the roofs and battlements of gothic buildings and castles. Gargoyles have a practical purpose: they’re spouts, enabling rainwater to drain off the roof and gush through their mouths, before plummeting to the ground.
What is gargoyle in Harry Potter?
Gargoyles are a semi-sentient stone creatures used as guards for rooms in Hogwarts. A stone gargoyle blocks the entrance to the Head’s Office. It steps aside when the correct password is given to enter (CS11). A stone gargoyle is used as a water spout in the Potions dungeon (PA17).
What powers do gargoyles have?
Gargoyles have six powers and abilities: immortality (invulnerable to the passing of time and to diseases), human form (shapeshift to human-like beings), flight posses wings), camouflage (blend with the inanimate grotesques to surprise intruders), endurance (cannot be wounded at night), and petrification (turns other Oct 15, 2019.
Are gargoyles evil or good?
A gargoyle is usually chaotic evil. Gargoyles are sentient, cunning, and malevolent to the extreme.
What’s the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque?
Basically, grotesques are decorative stone carvings on old buildings, usually the heads of strange and ugly creatures, whereas gargoyles are spouts in the form of grotesque human or animal figures projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building.
What is a synonym for gargoyle?
In this page you can discover 12 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for gargoyle, like: grotesque figure, cherub, gargoyles, sculpture, battlement, cyclopean, bas-relief, gutter, spout, drain and rainspout.
What culture are gargoyles?
Many cultures use gargoyles to enhance the design of a building and protect the surface of the walls. Although most known in French gothic architecture, the ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Egyptians all used carvings or flying buttresses with water spouts on buildings to protect the surfaces.
Why did they put gargoyles on churches?
Ancient Egyptians usually created gargoyles in the shape of a lion’s head. Some of the most famous gargoyles in the word sit atop cathedrals, such as Notre Dame in Paris. Some experts believe they were popular on churches because of the widespread belief that they protected against evil spirits.
What is the difference between a gargoyle and a Griffin?
A gargoyle is a functional sculpture or carving that serves a practical purpose on the building’s exterior—to move roof water away from its base, like a downspout of a gutter. A griffin may serve as a drainage gutter or its role can be purely symbolic.
Are gargoyles medieval?
Gargoyles are a fascinating element of Medieval Architecture. These frightening, grotesque sculptures are most often associated with Medieval Churches and Cathedrals but they were also used to great effect in English Gothic castles.
What were gargoyles used for in medieval times?
1. THEY SERVE A PRACTICAL PURPOSE. When gargoyles began appearing on churches throughout Europe in the 13th century, they served as decorative water spouts, engineered to preserve stone walls by diverting the flow of rainwater outward from rooftops.
Do gargoyles still exist?
Gargoyles have been used throughout the ages. In Ancient Egyptian architecture, gargoyles were prominently sculpted in the form of a lion’s head. Similar lion-mouthed waterspouts were also recorded on the Greek temples. Currently, there are 39 remaining lion-headed water drains on the Temple of Zeus.
What password moves the gargoyle?
She proceeded to a gargoyle in the halls, and uttered the password “Sherbet Lemon”, whereupon the gargoyle leapt aside, revealing a slowly ascending circular staircase. Reaching the top of this, they found an oaken double door. Professor McGonagall left Harry there.
Is there cursing in Harry Potter?
There are no swear words in the books. Rowling’s editor wouldn’t allow it, although she has said Ron would have swore a lot. Instead, he often says “bloody hell”.
What does Gulping gargoyles mean?
“gulping gargoyles” (GF9) Expression of surprise.
Are gargoyles monsters?
A Gargoyle is a living monster that was made of a stone-like substance during the day. Gargoyles are not the same as other stone beings, such as the Golem as Gargoyles are always in the form of in-human, possibly demonic, creatures. They stand guard in Gothic style structures, such as Cathedrals and European castles.
Do gargoyles protect humans?
Despite their frightening appearance, Gargoyles are guardians who are known to protect buildings from evil spirits, and do no harm to humans. In a few variations on the legends, gargoyles can be seen as the evil beings that eat humans or are vessels for demons, serving those who have summoned them.
What is a gargoyles weakness?
Gargoyles are weak to water spells, which includes the Ancient Magicks ice spells. A staff of light or Armadyl battlestaff are recommended for players who prefer staves, or an abyssal wand and abyssal orb for players who prefer to dual-wield.
Do gargoyles have names?
These gargoyles are some of the most iconic Gothic architectural landmarks. Whilst many of them do not have a specific name (most are simply known as gargoyles), they are an important addition to this list before we get into the more creative names later on.
