In order to convey size in a small sculpture, much smaller figures are placed next to the "giant". The mouth pulled open is a frequent symbol of devouring giants. You will find that an inordinate number of gargoyles have their mouths wide open and their tongues protruding. Chaos is represented by lifeforms which do not fit into known categories. Pagan religion existed to confront and surmount chaos and danger. Ancient people were no different from people today in finding amalgrams of male/female or human/animal bodies somewhat frightening. If you make eye contact with one, you may find out that this is true.įigures of ambiguous gender and species are frequently encountered in the world of gargoyles. They worshipped the heads that they had severed, believing them to hold a powerful force. This harks back to the 5th Century Celts who were, in fact, head-hunters. ![]() You will see a lot of heads that have become detached from their bodies. These are likely to be signs and symbols of European paganism. Once you've looked at 50 or 100 gargoyles, you'll begin to notice some recurring themes. One reason for this is the belief that frightening figures could scare away evil spirits, and they were put on the outsides of buildings to do just that. Some gargoyles clearly fill this instructional purpose by illustrating Bible stories, from Eve's first reach for the apple to frightening images of eternal damnation.īut not all gargoyles were for religious instruction. The cathedral was also to be a "sermon in stone" which could be "read" by an illiterate population. The cathedral was to be the most beautiful structure on earth, and no task was considered too arduous for the glory of God. Those with no gold to give could harnass themselves to the large carts which dragged stones from the quarry to the building site. Every person in the community contributed something. The cathedral was the manifestation of their faith. To understand medieval sculpture you must imagine the medieval person's powerful belief in God. In other words, to facilitate conversion to Christianity, pre-Christian practices and symbols were incorporated into the rituals of the Catholic Church. So the people will have no need to change their place of concourse, and, where of old they were wont to sacrifice cattle to demons, thither let them continue to resort on the day of the saint to where the Church is dedicated, and slay their beasts, no longer as a sacrifice but for social meal in honor of Him whom they now worship." Set relics there, and let them become temples of the true God. Augustine regarding the conversion of the pagan peoples to Christianity: You can detect the answer in Pope Gregory's instructions to St. Surely if we do not blush for such absurdities we should at least regret what we have spent on them." ![]() Here is a quadruped with a serpent's head, there a fish with a quadruped's head, then again an animal half horse, half goat. "What are these fantastic monsters doing in the cloisters under the very eyes of the brothers as they read? What is the meaning of these unclean monkeys, strange savage lions and monsters? To what purpose are here placed these creatures, half beast, half man? I see several bodies with one head and several heads with one body. Bernard of Clairvaux, living in 12th-century France, made some interesting (and not wholly complimentary) observations on the gargoyle carvings he saw around him: Most were carved between the 10th and 15th centuries in Western Europe. Gargoyles later became more ornamental in character and assumed many forms - often humourous and very inventive. One of the earliest recorded gargoyles is a Classical Greek lion mask on the Acropolis in Athens dating from the 4th century BC. They were also used as educational devices for a largely illiterate population, and were believed to ward off evil spirits with their own grotesqueness. Gargoyles - grotesquely carved heads of animal or human origin, with or without bodies - originally had a practical use as waterspouts (generally) on sacred buildings, throwing rainwater clear of walls. ![]() Gargoyle: (word origin: Old French gargouille, or 'throat') The York Minster Visual Introduction to GrotesquesSome of the following information is from ,Īn Introduction to Gargoyles compiled as a Class Project for the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill by Jack Westerhoff and Beth Stevens.
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