Why are gargoyles placed on buildings?
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.
What was the original purpose of a gargoyle?
Gargoyles were originally designed in 13th century French architecture as a means of disposing of water. Think of them as the precursor to the gutter. Typically, a trough was cut into the back of the gargoyle and the rainwater was able to run off of the roof and through the gargoyle’s mouth.
What was the purpose of gargoyles on cathedrals during the Middle Ages?
The most important purpose of medieval gargoyles was water-drainage from the roof. For this purpose, gargoyles were placed on the edges of the roofs and could be more than one. This served in quickly draining the rainwater, thus decreasing the pressure on the roof and saving it from damage.
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 does gargoyle symbolize?
In any case, gargoyles were used as symbols, and could be interpreted in many ways. They could have represented the souls condemned for their sins, whom was therefore the entrance to church forbidden. The price for sinning, although they were spared from eternal damnation, would be to be turned to stone.
What was the purpose of gargoyles on the outside of the cathedrals?
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.
Are gargoyles part of Gothic architecture?
6. The Gargoyles of Gothic Architecture. One of the most notable characteristics of gothic architecture is the gargoyle. Gargoyles are decorative, monstrous little creatures, perched at along the roofs and battlements of gothic buildings and castles.