Gargoyle General Info. :)
HISTORY:
Some of the earliest known forms of this type of architecture 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. Gargoyles were originally intended as waterspouts and drains to keep rain water from damaging the foundation of buildings. The term gargoyle, comes from the Latin gurgulio, and
the Old French gargouille, not only meaning "throat" but also describing the "gurgling" sound of water as it ran through the figure. Superstition held that gargoyles frightened away evil spirits while serving their practical function. 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 gargoyles 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. :)
the Old French gargouille, not only meaning "throat" but also describing the "gurgling" sound of water as it ran through the figure. Superstition held that gargoyles frightened away evil spirits while serving their practical function. 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 gargoyles 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. :)
LINKS. :)
1. http://www.gargoyles.org/history.html
2. http://www.halloween-mask.com/ntcrteu/tiger_gargoyle_02.
3. http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/825564/825564080370xl.jpg
4. http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/6030/6030,1112360407,1/stock-photo-a-stone-gargoyle-251651.jpg
5. http://www.gargoylebeads.com/Gargoyle_1_op_560x995.jpg
6. http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/59/e3/gargoyle,monster,clay,figures,cute,strange,abstract,or,fictional,creatures-59e3eeb54122879410c11ef7819b578b_h.jpg
7. http://webzoom.freewebs.com/gifts2collectibles/gargoyles/Gargoyle%20Head%20in%20Hands.jpg
8. http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/5608009/2/stock-photo-5608009-gargoyle-s-head.jpg
9. http://pfoinkle.com/tag/gargoyle
10. http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/92492/92492,1178827041,1/stock-photo-gargoyle-face-3270922.jpg
11. http://www.members.shaw.ca/coxworth/photos/Gargoyle.jpg
12. http://stonecarver.com/card/lion-card.jpg
13. http://astralcastle.com/images/windst/959.jpg
2. http://www.halloween-mask.com/ntcrteu/tiger_gargoyle_02.
3. http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/825564/825564080370xl.jpg
4. http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/6030/6030,1112360407,1/stock-photo-a-stone-gargoyle-251651.jpg
5. http://www.gargoylebeads.com/Gargoyle_1_op_560x995.jpg
6. http://cdnimg.visualizeus.com/thumbs/59/e3/gargoyle,monster,clay,figures,cute,strange,abstract,or,fictional,creatures-59e3eeb54122879410c11ef7819b578b_h.jpg
7. http://webzoom.freewebs.com/gifts2collectibles/gargoyles/Gargoyle%20Head%20in%20Hands.jpg
8. http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/5608009/2/stock-photo-5608009-gargoyle-s-head.jpg
9. http://pfoinkle.com/tag/gargoyle
10. http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/92492/92492,1178827041,1/stock-photo-gargoyle-face-3270922.jpg
11. http://www.members.shaw.ca/coxworth/photos/Gargoyle.jpg
12. http://stonecarver.com/card/lion-card.jpg
13. http://astralcastle.com/images/windst/959.jpg