A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Gargoyles appeared very early in Gothic architecture, and they were needed to eliminate corrosive rainwater from the foundations of churches. It is believed that the first gargoyles in architecture are dated to about 1220. Paris was the first place where these ornamental figures were used.
Water spouts formed as animal heads do not originate in Gothic architecture, but they reached their highest level. They were used much earlier in Greek and Egyptian architecture, and in Pompeii.
As soon as people realized the gargoyles’ decorative value, their number largely increased. Many of them did not even carry water, but they were beautiful. Various motifs used to carve gargoyles included pigs, birds, lions, cows, horses, foxes, pilgrims, bids, and many more. Also, human subjects were popular.
Gargoyles are depicted with many fearsome faces. They grin and leer down from the roofs and towers of medieval churches and have been present there for centuries, warding off evil. They decorate great churches and cathedrals of the British Isles, Ireland, and other European countries.
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