2006-06-14 16:39:38 · 9 answers · asked by nazcarfan69 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Gargoyle's had dual purposes. The 1st was to scare away evil spirits. The 2nd was architectural, their tongues hanging out of their mouths was actually a rain spout designed to direct water away from the buildings foundation.
2006-06-14 20:02:35 · answer #1 · answered by Helzabet 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, but Greece is NOT a big source of dinosaur fossils, and gargoyles, despite the popular legends, were put up there because they looked good, not because they scared away evil spirits.
When you hear people talking about Medieval Europeans and evil spirits, you're talking about folklore and traditions that were more for fun and entertainment than any sort of belief. Admit it... you've left cookies out for "Santa" long after you stopped believing in him; and you've wished on a star, made a birthday wish, and split a wishbone with somebody; all with no expectation of a wish coming true. It's a game. So it was in the middle ages. They were rational people like we were.
Anyways, the best source of gargoyles is European cathedrals, especially in Germany. Gargoyles are architectural ornaments, and have never been mythical creatures. The word comes from the same root as the word "Gargle" and refer to the sound the water markes going through the gargoyle--which was orignally a drain spout.
Look up "gothic architecture" on the internet or your library and you can find lots of images of gargoyles.
Good luck.
2006-06-15 13:00:50 · answer #2 · answered by Mantis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gargouille, not to be confused with gargoyle, was allegedly a serpentlike dragon that appeared in the Seine River in France. It was said to terrorize boats and flood the land. In legend, Saint Romain, the archbishop of Rouen, lured the monster to shore using a convict, and then made a cross with his fingers to tame the monster. He then led it into town where it was slaugtered. Some accounts say it was burned.
The creature was then said to have been carved onto buildings to be used as water drainage, therefore creating the modern "gargoyle". It is similarly accounted that they have no relation other than their water-spouting abilities, leading to the words' similarities.
The taming and destruction of the creature is simalar to that of The Tarasque.
2006-06-15 14:13:54 · answer #3 · answered by samanthajanecaroline 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many dynasaur fossils still in the rocks on some Greek Islands. The Myth are they guarded the stones and minerals. They had large shoulder blades which sometimes are pushed up as fossils hence the misnomer they had wings. The griffins seem to come from this. Some gargoyles are removed from the stone to protect the stones of the catherdrial?
2006-06-15 04:42:19 · answer #4 · answered by metaraison 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you looking for stories about them?
Or, statues of them, or the cartoon Gargoyles?
Your question is a little vague.
I found a cool place to purchase them. See below.
2006-06-15 12:56:51 · answer #5 · answered by Pixie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NYC has many of gargoyles as architecture symbols and jepstones
2006-06-15 00:52:19 · answer #6 · answered by arabianofelix 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have seen lots of them on top of tall buildings in downtown dallas.
2006-06-15 21:45:38 · answer #7 · answered by alcaholicdemon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good luck with that.
2006-06-14 23:46:32 · answer #8 · answered by 223 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try NYC
2006-06-14 23:42:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋