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In the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries gargoyles did not exist, so they had no significance at all.

Gargoyles evolved in the early 13th century as decorative rainwater spouts on the roofs of certain buildings such as cathedrals. They may have been based on the decorated corbels used in 12th century Norman churches to support the overhanging roof; both systems were intended to channel rainwater away from the walls.

Gargoyles mixed pure function (keeping the walls dry) with elaborate and often bizarre carvings, which are difficult to explain without a thorough understanding of the medieval mind. For people of that time, Christianity was a definite foundation of their lives, but there was still plenty of scope for superstition and belief in evil spirits.

Some historians think that gargoyles were intended to prevent evil spirits from pushing down the walls of the building; this is a possibility, but the answer is probably much more complex than that.

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13y ago

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