Gargoyle

In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a **Gargoyle** is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. Architects often used multiple gargoyles on a building to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimize potential damage from rainstorms. A trough is cut in the back of the gargoyle and rainwater typically exits through the open mouth. Gargoyles are usually elongated fantastical animals because their length determines how far water is directed from the wall. When Gothic flying buttresses were used, aqueducts were sometimes cut into the buttress to divert water over the aisle walls.

## Etymology

The term originates from the French gargouille*,* which in English is likely to mean "throat" or is otherwise known as the "gullet"; cf. Latin gurgulio, gula, gargula and similar words derived from the root gar*,* "to swallow", which represented the gurgling sound of water. It is also connected to the French verb gargariser*,* which shares a Latin root with the verb "gargle" and is likely imitative in origin. The Italian word for gargoyle is doccione or gronda sporgente*,* an architecturally precise phrase which means "protruding gutter". Italian also uses gargolla or garguglia, when it has a grotesque shape.

## Legend

A French legend that sprang up around the name of St. Romanus, the former chancellor of the Merovingian king Clotaire II who was made bishop of Rouen, relates how he delivered the country around Rouen from a monster called Gargouille or Goji. La Gargouille is said to have been the typical dragon with bat-like wings, a long neck, and the ability to breathe fire from its mouth. Multiple versions of the story are given, either that St. Romanus subdued the creature with a crucifix, or he captured the creature with the help of the only volunteer, a condemned man. In each, the monster is led back to Rouen and burned, but its head and neck would not burn due to being tempered by its own fire breath. The head was then mounted on the walls of the newly built church to scare off evil spirits, and used for protection. In commemoration of St. Romain, the Archbishops of Rouen were granted the right to set a prisoner free on the day that the reliquary of the saint was carried in procession.

## History

The term gargoyle is most often applied to medieval work, but throughout all ages, some means of water diversion, when not conveyed in gutters, was adopted. In ancient Egyptian architecture, gargoyles showed little variation, typically in the form of a lion's head. Similar lion-mouthed water spouts were also seen on Greek temples, carved or modelled in the marble or terracotta cymatium of the cornice. An excellent example of this are the 39 remaining lion-headed water spouts on the Temple of Zeus. Originally, it had 102 gargoyles or spouts, but due to the heavy weight, many snapped off and had to be replaced.

## Catholic Church

The primary use of the gargoyle was to illustrate evil through the form of the gargoyle, while another theory posits that grotesques in architecture were apotropaic devices. Sometimes the use of the gargoyles illustrated pagan beliefs to reflect the unique cultural history of the community the cathedral is part of. In the 12th century, before the use of gargoyles as rain spouts, St. Bernard of Clairvaux was famous for speaking out against gargoyles carved on the walls of his monastery's cloister.

## Animal

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans all used animal-shaped waterspouts. During the 12th Century, when gargoyles appeared in Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was growing stronger and converting many new people. Most of the population at this time was illiterate, so images were very important to convey ideas. Many early gargoyles depicted some version of a dragon, especially in France. In addition to serving as spouts for water, the gaping mouths of these gargoyles evoked the fearsome destructiveness of these legendary beasts, reminding the laity of the need for the church's protection.

## Capabilities

A Gargoyle is a winged humanoid with a penchant for perching on high terrain. Given their origins as statues of grotesque humans and animals designed to ward off evil spirits and channel rainwater from rooftops, they also tend to have an ability to turn to stone, voluntarily or not. Few are actually living stone.

## Common powers

**Camouflage:** Gargoyles can visually blend into surroundings by blending in with the coloration and form of their background to avoid optical perception.

**Dermal Armor:** Gargoyles have or can generate an innate armor as a part of their body, which is resistant to attacks, harm or pain, and temperature extremes.

**Enhanced Durability:** Gargoyles' physical durability, the ability to withstand damage, is extremely high, allowing them to take numerous blows of internal or external assaults before succumbing to the effects.

**Enhanced Regeneration:** This level of regeneration would be capable of healing minor amputations to the body, such as lost fingers, toes, ears and potentially reattaching lost limbs. For regeneration of more serious amputations to the body, healing may not be perfect.

**Enhanced Strength:** Gargoyles can raise thousands of pounds to tens of thousands of pounds.

**Glowing Eyes:** Gargoyles possess eyes that glow which allows them to generate light, sometimes allowing them to see in the dark clearly.

**Night Vision:** Gargoyles have excellent night vision, the ability to see in low light conditions or even total darkness.

**Wallcrawling:** Gargoyles can scale walls and ceilings, no matter how rough or smooth they are.

**Wing Manifestation:** Gargoyles have or are able to manifest wings that grow or are attached to the body allowing flight.