What is a gargoyle and what does it symbolize?
Gargoyles were commonly used in medieval times. Their two main purposes were to scare off evil, and to divert rainwater. The word “Gargoyle” originates from the old French word “Gargouille” meaning “throat” but which also describes the gurgling sound of water as it is coming down the downspout.
What is the story behind gargoyles?
Gargoyles were originally designed in 13th century French architecture as a means of disposing of water. Think of them as the precursor to the gutter. However, some gargoyles had another function. As decorations in churches and cathedrals, they were said to ward off evil spirits.
Why do some buildings have gargoyles?
Gargoyles are carved stone creatures known as grotesques. Often made of granite, they serve an important purpose in architecture. Like modern gutter systems you might see on houses or newer buildings, gargoyles prevent rainwater from running down stone walls, eroding the mortar that holds a building together.
What do gargoyles protect you from?
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 does Notre Dame have gargoyles?
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.
Where are gargoyles real?
Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris Perhaps the most well-known gargoyles in the world hover on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Technically known as grotesques (true gargoyles have waterspouts as mouths), these monstrous creatures glare ominously down on the City of Light.
Where would you find a flying buttress?
Flying buttresses are most commonly found on very old churches and cathedrals. An arch that extends out from a tall stone wall is a flying buttress, an architectural feature that was especially popular during the Gothic period.
What year did Gothic architecture begin?
The Gothic style of architecture and art originated in the Middle Ages and was prevalent in Europe between the mid-12th century and the 16th century. It was heavily ornate and conceptual, with its architecture characterised by high buildings, intricate aesthetics, cavernous spaces and expansive walls./span>
Does Notre Dame have flying buttresses?
Notre Dame cathedral is famous for architectural elements such as its flying buttresses, which are a form of structural support that became popular in the Gothic period of architecture. At Notre Dame, those windows are made, famously, of stained glass.
When were flying buttresses added to Notre Dame?
1345
When did Notre Dame burn down?
A
What does Rose Window mean?
Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. A circular window without tracery such as are found in many Italian churches, is referred to as an ocular window or oculus.
What kind of an arch is used in Romanesque architecture?
The Romanesque period (10th – early 13th century) is characterized by semi-circular arches , robust appearance, small paired windows, and groin vaults . Gothic architecture such as the Cologne Cathedral flourished during the high and late medieval periods.
Why did Romanesque architecture change to Gothic?
The Gothic grew out of the Romanesque architectural style, when both prosperity and relative peace allowed for several centuries of cultural development and great building schemes. So, rather than having massive, drum-like columns as in the Romanesque churches, the new columns could be more slender.
Who inspired the birth of Gothic architecture?
architect Hugues Libergier
What materials were used in Gothic architecture?
Gothic architecture is typically associated with achievements in the use of stone and glass—exemplified by the soaring vaults and delicate apertures of medieval churches.