I picked up this gargoyle in Paris during January 1999. Many people believe that gargoyles were developed by medieval architects and stone carvers to ward off evil in an imperfect world. Whatever their purpose, they adorn countless cathedrals in the world. Some say the first known reference dates back to 600 A.D.
What is known about gargoyles is that the word is derived from an old French word gargouille, meaning throat. The English word “gargle” is derived from the same word. Originally a gargoyle was considered a waterspout, directing water away from a building.
Technically an architect calls a waterspout on a building a gargoyle. If a stone carving does not carry water and has a face that resembles a creature, it is technically called a grotesque.
