Gargoyles in France
FRCS 101-A
Gargoyles: a Symbol of France
Gargoyles were important symbols adorning medieval Catholic churches, relating to Satan and original sin, but they were also important architectural features created with a purpose, that of a waterspout. Gargoyles predate Gothic architecture and have risen in popularity recently, although the symbolism has evolved from Catholicism. From their origins, throughout the mass building of cathedrals in Catholic France, to ornamental chimeras today, gargoyles have been important to the symbolism of France.
Gargoyles were created for a purpose which is reflected in the word origin. The French originator is gargoille, which translates to throat. It from this French word that gargoyles are named. This is not universal. Although the predominance of gargoyles in medieval gothic architecture influences the English use of gargoyle, the Italian term is also a reflection of the original purpose with doccione o gronda sporgente which means protruding gutter. The German and Dutch words for gargoyle also reflect their architectural purpose with both alluding to water flowing.1
Although today the word gargoyle is used to describe any beastly carving on a building, technically gargoyles are only the figures which were used as water spouts. Chimera is the term for ornamental carvings, thus some of the famous “gargoyles” of Notre Dame are in fact chimera, such as the most famous spitting “gargoyle” of Notre Dame. Originally the term gargoyle applied only to those statues and figures which redirected water away from masonry buildings. Gargoyles were created with the purpose of redirecting water while chimeras were ornamental.
The folklore which surrounds the origin of the defining characteristics of gargoyles as hideous half-beasts claims that a dragon by the name La Gargouille lived near the river Seine and caused floods by spouting water and breathed fire.2 A Catholic priest from Rouen exorcised the beast in exchange having a church
Gargoyles: a Symbol of France
Gargoyles were important symbols adorning medieval Catholic churches, relating to Satan and original sin, but they were also important architectural features created with a purpose, that of a waterspout. Gargoyles predate Gothic architecture and have risen in popularity recently, although the symbolism has evolved from Catholicism. From their origins, throughout the mass building of cathedrals in Catholic France, to ornamental chimeras today, gargoyles have been important to the symbolism of France.
Gargoyles were created for a purpose which is reflected in the word origin. The French originator is gargoille, which translates to throat. It from this French word that gargoyles are named. This is not universal. Although the predominance of gargoyles in medieval gothic architecture influences the English use of gargoyle, the Italian term is also a reflection of the original purpose with doccione o gronda sporgente which means protruding gutter. The German and Dutch words for gargoyle also reflect their architectural purpose with both alluding to water flowing.1
Although today the word gargoyle is used to describe any beastly carving on a building, technically gargoyles are only the figures which were used as water spouts. Chimera is the term for ornamental carvings, thus some of the famous “gargoyles” of Notre Dame are in fact chimera, such as the most famous spitting “gargoyle” of Notre Dame. Originally the term gargoyle applied only to those statues and figures which redirected water away from masonry buildings. Gargoyles were created with the purpose of redirecting water while chimeras were ornamental.
The folklore which surrounds the origin of the defining characteristics of gargoyles as hideous half-beasts claims that a dragon by the name La Gargouille lived near the river Seine and caused floods by spouting water and breathed fire.2 A Catholic priest from Rouen exorcised the beast in exchange having a church
References: Camille, Michael. The Gargoyles Of Notre-Dame : Medievalism And The Monsters Of Modernity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009. eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 26 June 2014. "Gargoyles." Gargoyles. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 June 2014. . "Gargoyles & Grotesques." Folklore, History & the Study of Myth. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 July 2014. . "Gargoyles and Grotesques - Crystalinks." Gargoyles and Grotesques - Crystalinks. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014. . Ott, Serena, ed. French Culture and Society: Coursepack. Buford, GA: LAD Custom Publishing, 2010. "Religious Topic Symbolism of Gargoyles by Marian Horvat." Religious Topic Symbolism of Gargoyles by Marian Horvat. N.p., n.d. Web. 27June 2014. .