Gargoyle is an element of architecture in the form of a dragon-shaped snake

In the historical European architecture a special place is occupied by all kinds of fantastic sculptural images adorning the facades of the majestic cathedrals. Stone watchmen look at the changing face of the city, and it seems that they know some secret. Why did these creatures become objects of inspiration for sculptors and architects? Not everyone knows, but the gargoyle is not just a grotesque fruit of creative imagination, but a true symbol of culture with deep historical roots.

The legendary monster from the Seine

Medieval France was marked by an abundance of stories about monsters that lived in this or that area. The so-called local mythology had a serious impact on culture and art, and the legend of the giant snake from the lower Seine is considered one of the key.

In the 7th century, ships heading up the Seine River were plagued by a lot of disasters, allegedly because of the monster attacks known as La Gargouille. The dragon, resembling a huge snake, drowned ships, casting down on them streams of water, drawing them into whirlpools. Some sources report that the gargoyle is also a fire-breathing snake. Saint Roman, then Bishop of Rouen, heeded the people's pleas and went to tame the monster.

Fearless residents could not find the strength to help the priest, only the convicted criminal, who agreed to become a bait, volunteered. However, the bishop, armed only with a holy cross and prayers, pacified the dragon. Subsequently, the inhabitants burned the monster at the stake, it was not possible to burn only the head and throat. This part was strengthened on the Rouen cathedral in the edification of the impure force.

Etymology of the name and correct spelling

Numerous water dragons in France had similar names, in which, in one way or another, the original word gorge (gullet) or garg (from the verb gargarizare) was played. Some sources trace the origin of the Greek "gorgon". In any case, the gargoyle is a kind of monster with a thirsty throat ready to swallow careless seafarers or boatmen, along with water.

In Russian they write both "gargoyle", and "gargoyle" or "gargoyle". The sense separation is known to a few, and it is rather blurry. In most cases, the first option refers to mythological monsters of all kinds of configurations, and the second and third options - to architectural elements in the form of grotesque sculptures of weirs.

Gargoyle in Architecture

Utilitarian appointment of a stone monster on the roofs of ancient cathedrals is actually quite far from religion. It is an artistic element, designed to decorate and partly mask the complex system of cascading spillways. In fact, the gargoyle is a drainage pipe, directing atmospheric precipitation to the trough located below, along which water will enter the next pipe.

If at the same time simply stick out the cathedral with sticking pipes, it is unlikely that its external appearance will be considered a work of architectural art. Gargoyles are not just sculptures and a successful attempt to camouflage such a mundane and practical structure as a drain. It is also an ornament, which has a distinct ritual meaning, awakening in the parishioners.

Sculptures of monsters

The most interesting thing about gargoyles is their diversity, which has long gone beyond the narrow zoological image of the snake-like dragon. Majestic buildings adorn at least impressive fantastic statues, among which you can see not only dragons, but also unknown monsters, strange people, characters of legends and legends, and some of them even had real prototypes.

The most famous gargoyle, whose photo is widely disseminated on the Internet, in fact refers to chimeras. This is not a drain, but one of the characters of the so-called gallery of chimeras at the famous cathedral of Notre Dame. This is Oath, which is sometimes called the Thinker because of the characteristic pensive posture.

Gargoyles and chimeras often mix in the minds of people, and they are mistakenly attributed to a single species of monsters. Over time, the boundaries between species have really blurred, and now these concepts are even used as synonyms, which in the academic sense is certainly wrong.

Gargoyle Metamorphosis

Originally called gargoyles exclusively gigantic snake dragons, which from mythology migrated to the category of architectural elements. But the watercourses were shaped in other ways: grotesque characters depicting sinners and devils in hell, lions and other animals. By and large, any gargoyle design object can be considered a gargoyle - from a frog to a monk.

Chimera is an alien from Greek mythology, the so-called monster, whose body consisted of parts of a lion, a goat and a snake. The head, paws and torso are lion's, from there the goat's neck grows with a horned head, and instead of a tail - a snake, which, according to various sources, strikes with poison or breathes flame.

Over time, the chimeras "acquired" parts of other animals: the wings of a bat, a monkey's face, hair or scales at the discretion of the author. Chimera is something that can not exist, it is illogical and monstrous. Not surprisingly, the gargoyle also fell into the same category. Only a few centuries have passed, and the names have merged imperceptibly.

Modern gargoyles

It is interesting that the very word "gargoyle" did not disappear in the depths of centuries. About them films and animated tapes are made, books are written, they are used as characters of the second plan, and also as game units in numerous computer games. Gargoyle, a photo of which could only be seen as a reference to the Notre-Dame de Paris, is an artistic image beloved by many architects.

In Kiev there is a fairly famous House with Chimeras, decorated with images of all kinds of monsters. A lot of sculptured monsters nest in St. Petersburg, for example in Kuznechny Lane.

Gargoyles are credited with an unruly, quarrelsome nature, this word can be used as an insult or a mocking nickname for a woman with a character. In the series "Interns", Dr. Bykov calls the chief doctor of the clinic Anastasia Kisegach.

Now gargoyles are often represented as some demons with leathery wings, it is in this form they appear in computer games and films. They also attribute the ability to turn into stone and come to life again. However, do not forget that everything began with a giant snake, supposedly living in the lower reaches of the River Seine.