As a water spout to direct water away from the face of a building. The word means 'gullet or throat'.
because they were originally created to go on church roofs, the open mouth worked like a rain gutter
Gargoyles Sculptures that act as water spouts often quite scary-looking.
A gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque designed to carry water away from a roof and the walls of a building, most obviously seen in churches. It is most often seen as a medieval addition, but was known to the ancient Greeks , ancient Egyptians and derives from the Latin word Gula. Throughout the history of churches, gargoyles were used to convey the idea of evil, convincing people to go to church with the idea that the end was near. Gargoyles can represent Lions, the Wolf, Snakes. Goats, Monkeys, Eagles, Griffins, Harpies and Mermaids. They would now be replaced by guttersIt was believed in the 19th century that gargoyles warded of evil and served as protection against witches.http://www.webanswers.com/social-sciences/spiritual-religious/why-do-christian-monuments-like-churches-have-gorgoyles-sculpted-35269f
Architects.
Georgia O'Keeffe
Gargoyles were used for putting on the top of churches and buildings. It was good because, when it rained heavily the rain dripped of the gargoyles and the buildings didn't leak. They were also good for decoration. Sometimes people put them up so that it would scare bad spirits or bad people away.
Gargoyles!
To scare away bad spirits.
They were put on buildings to scare people into coming to church. If they did not come, they were condemned to live with these horrific creatures for eternity. Wrong!!!!!!!!!! The real answer is: Gargoyles are weird stone figures which are half human and half animal or half bird. They sit on edges of roofs of many old cathedrals, palaces, and other buildings. But these frightening figures are not there to frighten away passers-by; they serve a very useful purpose. Gargoyles are actually waterspouts to catch the rain as it flows off the roof. This water is piped into the mouths of the gargoyles and is emptied into the street, instead of dripping down the sides of the building and damaging it. Stoneworkers who created these gargoyles in medieval times are said to have represented their friends in the grotesque forms of these gargoyles. Some people believe that gargoyles were named from the French word gargouiller, which means "to gargle." Perhaps this is true, since people do make strange and even grotesque faces when they gargle water in their throats.
Gargoyles are ornamental water spouts for draining water from the roofs of buildings. Particularly older churches and cathedrals. Many such have gargoyles on the eves of their roofs.
They are neither. They are representations of supernatural "monsters" meant to protect buildings from demons.
They were decorative Gargoyles were made from limestone and sometimes marble They were used to drain rainwater from rooftops Few architects or masons use them anymore They were often found on church buildings and important buildings.
Gargoyles are merely sculptured waterspouts on older buildings to allow rainwater to drain from the roof. They were generally sculptured to resemble animals and mythical creatures. The purpose was similar, the shapes varied.
gargoyles were put in place to scare off evil spirits Gargoyles are weird stone figures which are half human and half animal or half bird. They sit on edges of roofs of many old cathedrals, palaces, and other buildings. But these frightening figures are not there to frighten away passers-by; they serve a very useful purpose. Gargoyles are actually waterspouts to catch the rain as it flows off the roof. This water is piped into the mouths of the gargoyles and is emptied into the street, instead of dripping down the sides of the building and damaging it. Stoneworkers who created these gargoyles in medieval times are said to have represented their friends in the grotesque forms of these gargoyles. Some people believe that gargoyles were named from the French word gargouiller, which means "to gargle." Perhaps this is true, since people do make strange and even grotesque faces when they gargle water in their throats.
gargoyles were invented by gargoyles who were invented by gargoyles and so on. This was written by gargoyle.
on old buildings from the 14th and 13th centuries such as churches xoxo :* lots of love hgns and kisseesssss xxxxxxxxx
A gargoyle is just a carved waterspout to drain water from the roof. Usually found on ornate buildings such as churches.