How do gargoyles drain water?
How do gargoyles drain water?
In architecture, the gargoyle is a waterspout designed to drain water from the parapet gutter. As the rainwater collects on top of the building’s roof or atop the gargoyle, the water is channeled to the mouth of the statue, where it is shot out and directed away from the structure’s wall and foundation.
What is a gargoyle without water called?
Grotesques do not have a water spout like gargoyles, but are simply stone carvings, or paintings of creatures. They can be used as protection like gargoyles, or decorative paintings, and sculptures. Another name for a grotesque, is a chimera. These are mythical creatures very similar to grotesques.
What is the difference between a grotesque and a gargoyle?
The word gargoyle is also used figuratively to mean an excessively ugly person. A grotesque is a carved animal or human attached to a building that is merely decorative and does not serve any other function. Grotesques are found on churches and other buildings such as university halls.
Are there different types of gargoyles?
Generally speaking, gargoyles can be classified into three kinds of figures, humans, animals and monsters.
Where should I place gargoyles in my house?
They are often the things that put the finishing touches to a garden. Your gargoyle can be set simply amongst shrubbery, partly obscured from view, or made a more obvious feature and placed on columns, or pedestals at various points in the garden such as in grottoes, alcoves, staircases or at the end of a path.
Are all gargoyles water spouts?
Water Spout The main difference between gargoyles and grotesques is that gargoyles contain a water sprout through the mouth, whereas grotesques do not.
What is the difference between gargoyles and chimeras?
In architecture, a grotesque or chimera is a fantastic or mythical figure used for decorative purposes. Chimerae are often described as gargoyles, although the term gargoyle technically refers to figures carved specifically as terminations to spouts which convey water away from the sides of buildings.
Are gargoyles evil or good?
A gargoyle is usually chaotic evil. Gargoyles are sentient, cunning, and malevolent to the extreme.
What do gargoyles symbolize?
In addition to the practical function of projecting water away from a building, gargoyles were also intended to symbolise ‘guardianship’ of the building and to ward off evil spirits. Their open mouths were symbolic of them devouring giants.
Do gargoyles protect you?
Just as with bosses and chimeras, gargoyles are said to protect what they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits.
Why do people put gargoyles on homes?
The precise purpose of gargoyles was to act as a spout to convey water from the upper part of a building or roof gutter and away from the side of walls or foundations, thereby helping to prevent water from causing damage to masonry and mortar.