Notre Dame Gargoyles

These statues typically protrude from the building.

Notre dame gargoyles. According to the daily beast there are hundreds of gargoyles at. Cathedrale of notre dame de paris and the river seine by sunset by definition a gargoyle is a carved or sculpted mythical figure usually designed with a spout of some sort that carries water away from the building just like drainpipes do on modern houses. Unlike the gargoyles these statues do not protrude from the roof. Europe france everyone knows about the notre dame cathedral in paris.

By evacuating rain water the gargoyles protect the cathedral and protect the stone from damage caused by excessive runoff. It was custom to top each structure with a menacing gargoyle who protected the cathedral by warding off evil spirits. Posing as both guardians and gutters these creatures have a distinctive appearance consisting of a hollow streamlined body a long neck and and an expressive animal like head. The former serve to drain rainwater the latter are purely decorative.

Gargoyles are specifically the statues with draining spouts used to funnel water away from the building. Hundreds of these sculpted watchers stood across notre dame. It all began in paris when the notre dame cathedral was being built rising majestically stone by stone towards the heavens. Nothing more than elaborate drainpipes and yet the gargoyles from the french gargouille meaning throat symbolised something else.

As rain water runs down the roofs of notre dame de paris it needs to drain off without dripping down the walls and potentially damaging them. There have likely been gargoyles the spouting water type on notre dame since 1240 when they would have been simple carved heads and ever so useful in the climate of the city which is obviously no stranger to rain particularly during the colder months of the year. That is in fact the main difference between gargoyles and chimeras. Quasi demonic they represented the forces of evil forever outside the sanctuary of the church within.

By the time notre dame was finished in 1345 dozens of limestone gargoyles covered its exterior walls. The gargoyles main purpose is very practical. That position as witness to a nation has curiously been personified by strange half human stone figures on its roofs. Notre dame is also covered with some fantastic and stunning beasts.

Chimera were created simply as decoration on the notre dame cathedral. The gargoyles aren t just for show although the other small creatures adorning notre dame the chimeras are decorative only.