What makes a gargoyle a gargoyle?
Gargoyles are stone statues that are attached to buildings. But they are more than just a decoration. Gargoyles are waterspouts that help rainwater flow away from a building’s walls. They’re carved from a block of solid stone, usually granite.
What materials are gargoyles made out of?
The materials used for the earliest Gargoyles were made of wood or even terracotta but early Medieval Gothic gargoyles were made of stone. Later gargoyles, especially in churches, were predominantly limestone and marble, although metals such as lead were also used in fashioning some gargoyles.
What is the reason for gargoyles?
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.
How did the purpose of the gargoyle sculptures change over time?
The number of Gargoyles added to buildings were numerous because dividing the flow of water minimized potential water damage. The second purpose of gargoyles was as ‘guardians’ of the buildings in the form of abstract symbols designed to represent, and to ward off evil.
Are gargoyles good or bad?
When not constructed as a waterspout and only serving an ornamental or artistic function, the correct term for such a sculpture is a grotesque, chimera, or boss. Just as with bosses and chimeras, gargoyles are said to protect what they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits.
Do gargoyles come to life?
Most gargoyles are depicted as grotesque creatures, but it is said that – like snowflakes – you will never find two that are exactly alike. Some legends say that these stone creatures actually come to life to ward off evil, and that they can communicate with others when the wind or rain passes through their mouths.
Did the gargoyles of Notre-Dame survive?
Viollet-le-Duc was a Gothic Revival architect who was famous for his own creative restorations, introducing the gargoyles, which served as rain spouts from the roof and appeared to have survived the fire. Viollet-le-Duc restored the facade of Notre-Dame, inside and out, including replacing 60 statues.
Why are there gargoyles on Notre-Dame?
The gargoyles’ main purpose is very practical. As rain water runs down the roofs of Notre-Dame de Paris, it needs to drain off without dripping down the walls and potentially damaging them. By evacuating rain water, the gargoyles protect the cathedral and protect the stone from damage caused by excessive runoff.
Why are grotesques on churches?
During the Middles Ages, the Catholic Church used grotesques on their churches to tell the populace through the images how faith would protect them.
Why are there gargoyles on churches?
Originally, there were 102 gargoyles populating the Temple’s gutters, but they have since fallen off or been replaced. The Catholic Church’s primary use of the gargoyle was to illustrate evil. The church wanted to convey a realistic image of the possibility of a damned afterlife.
What do Gargoyles represent in the Bible?
Many considered gargoyles the spiritual protectors of churches as well, scaring off demons and evil spirits. Some historians believe gargoyles were inspired from pagan eras and were used to make churches feel more familiar to new Christians.
Are gargoyles 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.
What is the history of gargoyles?
THEY DATE BACK TO ANCIENT EGYPT. Although the name gargoyle dates back just a few centuries, the practice of crafting decorative, animal-themed drain spouts reaches back several millennia. The ancient Egyptians had a thing for lions, as did the Romans and the Greeks.
What is a chimera in architecture?
Chimera, or chimère, in architecture, is a term loosely used for any grotesque, fantastic, or imaginary beast used in decoration.
What does gargoyle mean?
1a : a spout in the form of a grotesque human or animal figure projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building. b : a grotesquely carved figure.
What else do gargoyles and grotesques do?
The gargoyles and grotesques are fascinating architectural sculptures that can be found on many buildings. For centuries, both, the grotesques and gargoyles were used as protective figures which chase away evil spirits. They are mostly guardians of churches and cathedrals.
Who are the 3 gargoyles in Hunchback?
Charles Kimbrough, Jason Alexander, and Mary Wickes as Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, three comical gargoyle statues who are Quasimodo’s best friends and guardians.
Why is Quasimodo deformed?
In Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo has a back deformity from birth. The proper term for his condition is kyphosis, a spinal disorder that causes a person to appear to have a hump. The spine bends, usually because of degeneration of the discs of the spine or the spacing between them.
Is the Hunchback of Notre Dame real?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame It is based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name, published in 1831, and until recently was believed to be completely fictional.
Who did the voice of Esmeralda?
Demi MooreThe Hunchback of Notre Dame
Who is the bad guy in Hunchback of Notre Dame?
Monseigneur Claude Frollo
Is there a Hunchback of Notre Dame 2?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (also known as The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2: The Secret of the Bell) is a 2002 American animated musical film directed by Bradley Raymond.
What is the Hunchback of Notre Dame’s name?
Quasimodo