The Past of the Gargoyles.
The word Gargoyle originates from France, and it literally means "throat" or "pipe". They have been found back as far as Ancient Greece, where they formed pipes into the forms of lion heads or other fierce animals. The sole purpose of these pipes were to drain rainwater off of roofs. Technically, only those that were created into pipes were referred to as gargoyles, and those that were formed into statues were referred to as Grotesque. The Gargoyle has been portrayed in folklore as a protective spirit. They are found on many ancient churches, such as one of the world's most famous churches Notre Dame, because they were expected to scare off evil spirits from entering there. Their terrifying figures were believed to come alive at night, and the gargoyles blessed with wings would fly around not only the cathedral but the village and ward off evil spirits and keep everyone safe, and would return to their rightful places when the sun began to peak. But over time, they came to be seen as evil themselves, what with their scary features and demeaning postures. Literacy was not an option for most people in ancient times, only the rich could really afford education. So images were very important to the ancient people, and garogyles were one of the many many ways to get points across. In the end, it is all how you choose to look at things. You can either choose to see the beauty in things, or find the ugly. Some found them spooky, evil, grotesque. While others found them reassuring, protective, beautiful. I see beauty.
http://fanzone50.com/Tales/Gargoyles.html
http://fanzone50.com/Tales/Gargoyles.html
Photographs:
http://www.theofantastique.com/2010/05/18/gary-varner-gargoyles-grotesques-and-green-men/
http://damnedsouls.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/gargoyles-grotesques-whats-the-difference/
http://magickalgraphics.com/gargoyles.htm
http://geektyrant.com/news/2010/7/14/disney-to-make-original-live-action-gargoyles-movie.html
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecuador_gargoyles_quito_cathedral.jpg
http://www.richpettit.com/vacations/france/gargoyles%20notre%20dame.jpg
http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitxer:SalisburyCathedral_Gargoyle1.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mausoleum(05).jpg
http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12018
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-24504685/stock-photo-two-gargoyles-from-notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.html
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-20696224/stock-photo-romanesque-gargoyles-and-stone-carvings-on-notre-dame-church-in-poitiers-france.html
http://www.theofantastique.com/2010/05/18/gary-varner-gargoyles-grotesques-and-green-men/
http://damnedsouls.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/gargoyles-grotesques-whats-the-difference/
http://magickalgraphics.com/gargoyles.htm
http://geektyrant.com/news/2010/7/14/disney-to-make-original-live-action-gargoyles-movie.html
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ecuador_gargoyles_quito_cathedral.jpg
http://www.richpettit.com/vacations/france/gargoyles%20notre%20dame.jpg
http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitxer:SalisburyCathedral_Gargoyle1.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mausoleum(05).jpg
http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12018
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-24504685/stock-photo-two-gargoyles-from-notre-dame-cathedral-paris-france.html
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-20696224/stock-photo-romanesque-gargoyles-and-stone-carvings-on-notre-dame-church-in-poitiers-france.html