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In architecture, a gargoyle or a 'grotesque', is a stone sculpture usually made of granite. They adorn many old stone buildings. Many people look at these strange and sometimes scary beasts of stone and ask themselves why the architects decided to create these statues? Was it for beauty? For mystical protection? Find out below...
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| Oakland Cemetery – Atlanta, Georgia |
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| San Juan de los Reyes Monastery – Toledo, Spain |
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Well, the main reason for gargoyles is actually a lot simpler. These stone beasts are actually there to prevent rainwater from running down the masonry wall and slowly erode the mortar between the stones, thereby weakening the structure. Architects used many sculptures together to create separate flows and minimize the risk that running water poses. |
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| Natural History Museum – London, England |
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| Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris, France |
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The sculptures are usually built to be an elongated shape standing away from the building, so they can funnel the water as far away from the building as possible. |
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| Cologne Cathedral – Cologne, Germany |
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| Cathedral of Quito – Quito, Ecuador |
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| Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya – Barcelona, Spain |
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However, 'grotesque' (non gargoyle shaped) sculptures are only ornamental, and they are said to ward off bad spirits and guard the building from evil spirits. Whatever the reason, it's hard not to be affected by these bizarre creations! |
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| Forbidden City – Beijing, China |
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| Mont Saint-Michel – Normandy, France |
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| Washington National Cathedral – Washington D.C., USA |
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| St. Nicholas Church – Lüneburg, Germany |
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| Peace Tower on Parliament Hill – Ottawa, Canada |
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| Marble Church, Bodelwyddan – Clwyd, Wales |
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| Cologne Cathedral – Cologne, Germany |
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| Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris, France |
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| Reims Cathedral – Reims, France |
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| University of Washington – Seattle, Washington |
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| University of Sydney – Sydney, Australia |
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| Château d’Amboise – Amboise, France |
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| Alcobaça Monastery – Alcobaça, Portugal |
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| Washington National Cathedral – Washington D.C., USA |
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| Princeton University – New Jersey, USA |
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| Winchester Cathedral – Winchester, England |
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| Biltmore Estate – North Carolina, USA |
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| Nidaros Cathedral – Trondheim, Norway |
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| Cathedral of Santa Eulalia – Barcelona, Spain |
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| Palma Cathedral – Palam, Mallorca, Spain |
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Magdalen College – Oxford, England
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| Zagreb Cathedral – Zagreb, Croatia |
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| Washington National Cathedral – Washington D.C., USA |
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| Hospital de Sant Pau – Barcelona, Spain |
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| Westminster Abbey – London, England |
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| Château d’Amboise – Amboise, France |
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| Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya – Barcelona, Spain |
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| St Mary’s Cathedral – Edinburgh, Scotland |
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| Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris, France |
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| Notre Dame de l’Épine – Marne, France |
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| Plummer Building – Rochester, Minnesota |
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| Cheshire, England |
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| Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris, France |
Submitted by: Jackie D.
