Gargolye [Middle English gargule (Old Fr. gargouille), throat]: a waterspout, usually in the form of a grotesquely carved animal or fantastic creature, projecting from the gutter of a building, thus:
A dominant feature of Gothic architecture, gargoyles gradually evolved into purely ornamental motifs high above the cathedral grounds. Their symbolic function was probably either to ward off evil and thus protect sacred spaces or to remind worshipers of the evil to guard against which they came to these sacred spaces in the first place.
Some gargolyles are haunting and scary:
Others are comical:
Recently gargolyles have joined mainstream popular culture in the form of home decorations, calendars, and even animated films.
Welcome to the world of Goth-Kitsch!
That gargoyles and other carved grotesques from the middle ages have strongly influenced Western painting is unquestionable:
