Gargoyles, what are they for?

Question

What were they originally put on churches for?

Answer 1

in Medieval and Renaissance history
Staring down at us from the highest points of a Gothic Cathedral are highly animated, fantastically ugly creatures. Some art historians believe these spirit-figures were added to churches as visual reminders of the horrors of hell. Other believe the creatures were intended to frighten away evil spirits. Some seem to be fertility figures, others,humorous, these small sculptures serve a practical purpose: they're often used as rainspouts to channel water off the cathedral roof.
Some of the earliest known forms of this type of architectural element have been found in ancient Roman and Greek ruins. These were made of terra-cotta. Later figures were carved of wood, with a complete shift to stone by the 13th century.
The term gargoyle, comes from the Latin gurgulio, and the Old French gargouille, not only meaning "throat" but also describing the "gurgling" sound made by water as it ran through the figure. After the lead drainpipe was introduced in the sixteenth century, gargoyles primarily served a decorative function. Although most have grotesque features, the term gargoyle has come to include all types of images. Some were depicted as monks, combinations of real animals and people, many of which were humorous. Unusual animal mixtures, or chimeras, did not act as rainspouts and are more properly called grotesques. They serve more as ornamentation, but are now synonymous with gargoyles.
Gargoyles can be found in many types of Gothic architecture, but they are usually associated with the great churches and cathedrals of Europe, most notably the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France.Many gargoyles are similar to the legends and figures of the ancients Celts, such as the Green Man or Jack of the Green - the god of tree worship. Artists who carved these were inspired by their culture. Gargoyles can be dragons, men, cats, bats, frogs, serpents, and countless others. Gargoyles are still being carved today

Answer 2

A local legend that sprang up around the name of St. Romanus ("Romain") (631 – 641 A.D.), the former chancellor of the Merovingian king Clotaire II who was made bishop of Rouen, relates how he delivered the country around Rouen from a monster called Gargouille, having had the creature captured by a liberated prisoner. The gargoyle's grotesque form was said to scare off evil spirits so they were used for protection. In commemoration of St. Romain the Archbishops of Rouen were granted the right to set a prisoner free on the day that the reliquary of the saint was carried in processio

Answer 3

Gargoyles were put on churches as reminders that evil does not dwell in the house of God. They were a symbol of strength to some and evil to some. Some people say they were watch dogs of Christ.

Answer 4

They were originally rain downspouts, and the name comes from the French word, "gargouille," meaning throat. (By implication, the gurgling noise of water running down the critter's throat.)

Gargoyles were carved in grotesque forms to scare away evil spirits from a building. Mixed animal forms called "chimera" were not intended as downspouts, but served purely as ornamentation.

There is a legend about St. Romanus capturing a "gargouille" -- a monster whose scales warded off evil.

Answer 5

gargoyle. The Vampire might want to die first from both exhaustion, photo voltaic, or merely undeniable ***-kicking. (I mean it would want to't suck animal blood, and gargoyles haven't any blood, so...) The werewolf might want to turn decrease back right into a human once the finished moon is lengthy gone, throughout daylight hours the werewolf might want to develop right into a human, the gargoyle might want to turn decrease back to stone. at the same time as there become no finished moon, and at evening the gargoyle might want to kick the werewolf'/human's ***... -words of a Christian. that's type of unusual how evening is major for all 3 of those creatures.

Answer 6

gargoyles were originally put on churches to ward off evil spirits and protect the church and its occupants

Answer 7

To ward off evil spirits

Answer 8

They were believed to scare away evil entities and used as protection.

Answer 9

To protect them. Try Google.

Answer 10

they are protectors and ward off evil spirits.