why do they put gargoyles on the outside of churches ?

Answer 1

To protect against the evil spirits.

Answer 2

It all started in the 1400's of the Catholic church, right befor they changed the Sabbath because they say they have the power to. THe sungod wich is seen in alot of monistaries painted or statues in the background (a picture of a sun basically) is what the pegan's worshipped then. They wanted to mold the pegans and Catholics together so they made sunday (sun=sunday) the first day of the week their Sabbath and after that many new beliefs and traditions started entering the church quickly after. Gargoyl's as yes everyone else has said is to ward off spyrits so the pegans slapped that on top of the church. Everyone that reads this you need to sit down and look over your Bible, stop worshipping and celebrating Idols and their day (s). Follow the ten commandments. Just because Christ rose on sunday doesnt mean he change it..come on use your braian it aint that hard.

Answer 3

Gargoyles were placed on the churches to ward off evil spirits - a pagan belief. You would be amazed at how many things the christians believe are based on pagan concepts. And if they were used for drains, why didn't they just use something plain and ordinary?

Answer 4

Gargoyles have a practical use, in the fact that they are water spouts, designed to drain water away from the roof of the church, and they have a spiritual use, in that they protect the church from evil spirits. Obviously, this latter use is only in Christian mythology; they have been used from the time of ancient Egypt onwards. They needn't only be demons - gargoyles are also in the shape of men, and, in the case of the Sheela-na-gigs (the Celtic influence in Britain), women with huge vulvas.
The name is derived from the Latin, to do with the gurgling of the throat, which amply describes their function!

Answer 5

"Gargoyle", the dictionary definition: a spout usually in the form of a grotesquely carved face or figure, projecting from a roof gutter. From the Old French "gargouille" and the Late Latin "gurgulio", both meaning throat. (from Chambers Concise dictionary)

"Gargoyles (in the strict sense) are carvings on the outside of buildings designed to direct water from the roof away from the base of the walls... ...Some gargoyles are undecorated but many are zoomorphic or anthropomorphic - often very imaginative and/or grotesque. This has led to the term 'gargoyle' being applied more widely to any grotesque carving in medieval buildings."

Possible reasons for gargoyles:
- Rainwater plumbing (this is certain but does not explain why so many are carved creatures, nor the various forms)
- Warding off evil
- A reminder to parishioners of the perils of evil - bad guys are marginalised to the outside of the church (but why so high up and hard to see?)
- As pagan symbols to encourage believers in pre-Christian ways to come to church (make them feel welcomed or at home, as it were)
- Decoration (but why so ugly? why so hard to see)
- A juxtaposition or balance of ugliness against the beauty inside the building (a very medieval concept which we find hard to understand these days)
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My money's on the 'Ward off evil' theory, people were very superstitious in the old days...

Answer 6

Gargoyles and grotesques were put on churches to ward off evil spirits

Answer 7

Gargoyles are said to ward off bad spirits and keep the church safe.

Answer 8

Gargoyles are an outlet (spout) for rainwater. Hence the name - from gurgling water. The image itself was to enhance the 'power look' of churches. Face it old churches have damn scary architecture.

Besides it would be silly to put them on the inside. ;-)

Answer 9

I've heard that gargoyles are put on Gothic churches.

Answer 10

I never saw a gargoyle in any church here in the Philippines yet...I'll try to search for one

Answer 11

Gargoyles were originally designed to serve as rain spouts. Their grotesque appearance, however, was intended to ward off evil spirits.