Why did medieval churches have gargoyles?

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.

What is the religious purpose of gargoyles?

Gargoyles: The grotesque carved creatures of Christian architecture were borrowed from ancient pagan religions – Walls with Stories.

Why did the stonemasons put gargoyles on the edges and corners of the cathedrals?

Some were simply grotesque. One reason for this is the belief that frightening figures could scare away evil spirits, and they were put on the outsides of buildings to do just that. They worshipped the heads that they had severed, believing them to hold a powerful force.

Why do Catholic cathedrals have gargoyles?

Gargoyles have been used throughout the ages. In Ancient Egyptian architecture, gargoyles were prominently sculpted in the form of a lion’s head. The Catholic Church’s primary use of the gargoyle was to illustrate evil. The church wanted to convey a realistic image of the possibility of a damned afterlife.

What is the true meaning of a gargoyle?

Definition of gargoyle 1a : a spout in the form of a grotesque human or animal figure projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building. b : a grotesquely carved figure. 2 : a person with an ugly face.

What is the purpose of grotesque gargoyles on Gothic cathedrals?

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.

Do gargoyles protect churches?

Just as with bosses and chimeras, gargoyles are said to protect what they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits.