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HandWiki. Gargoyle. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30867 (accessed on 26 September 2026).
HandWiki. Gargoyle. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30867. Accessed September 26, 2026.
HandWiki. "Gargoyle" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30867 (accessed September 26, 2026).
HandWiki. (2022, October 24). Gargoyle. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/30867
HandWiki. "Gargoyle." Encyclopedia. Web. 24 October, 2022.
Gargoyle
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In architecture, a gargoyle (/ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/) is a carved or formed grotesque:6–8 with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater 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 the potential damage from a rainstorm. A trough is cut in the back of the gargoyle and rainwater typically exits through the open mouth. Gargoyles are usually an elongated fantastical animal because the length of the gargoyle 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.

gargoyle flying buttresses gargoyles

References

  1. Hargreaves, J. (1990). Hargreaves New Illustrated Bestiary. Gothic Image Publications. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-906362-12-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=64vfAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved May 11, 2018. "The word Gargoyle is derived from 'La Gargouille' – the name of an immense dragon who lived in the river Seine at Rouen. The word Gargouille comes from the word for a throat, and gargle is derived from the same source. La Gargouille was ..." 
  2. Houghton Mifflin (2000). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 725. ISBN 978-0-395-82517-4. https://archive.org/details/americanheritage0000unse_a1o7/page/725. 
  3. Benton, Janetta Rebold (1997). Holy Terrors: Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings. Abbeville Press. ISBN 978-0-7892-0182-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=XlBjQgAACAAJ. 
  4. "gargle". https://www.etymonline.com/word/gargle. 
  5. "Word of the Day: Gargoyle". September 5, 2015. https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/gargoyle-2015-09-05. 
  6. Butler, A.; Thurston, H.; Attwater, D. (1956). Lives of the Saints. Lives of the Saints. Kenedy. p. 183. https://books.google.com/books?id=sFDZAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved May 11, 2018. "ST ROMANUS, Bishop of Rouen (c. a.d. 640) Not much that is certainly authentic is known of this bishop. ... The legend is that this privilege took its rise from St Romanus killing a great serpent, called Gargouille, with the assistance of a ..." 
  7. Herbermann, C.G.; Pace, E.A.; Pallen, C.B.; Shahan, T.J.; Wynne, J.J.; MacErlean, A.A. (1913). The Catholic encyclopedia: an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church. Robert Appleton company. p. 209. https://books.google.com/books?id=4m0sAAAAIAAJ. Retrieved May 11, 2018. "St. Romanus (631-641) former chancellor of Clotaire II; legend relates how he delivered the environs of Rouen from a monster called Gargouille, having ..." 
  8. Cipa, S. (2009). Carving Gargoyles Grotesques, and Other Creatures of Myth: History, Lore, and 12 Artistic Patterns. Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-56523-329-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=nRIvvgAACAAJ. 
  9. Hodder, E. (1881). Cities of the world. Cities of the world. p. 46. https://books.google.com/books?id=xC8BAAAAQAAJ. Retrieved May 11, 2018. "The bishop put a leash round its neck, and the criminal led the Gargouille into Rouen, where, amidst the acclamations of the ... And so once a year, on Ascension Day, until the time of the Revolution, the chapter used to select a condemned ..." 
  10. British Archaeological Association (1939). The Archaeological Journal. Royal Archaeological Institute.. p. 361. https://books.google.com/books?id=CTspAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved May 11, 2018. "During the Merovingian period Rouen occupies a prominent place in the long struggle between Fredegonde and Brunhilda, which culminated in the brutal murder of BishopPretextatus in his own cathedral. To the seventh ... The former's legendary victory over the monster Gargouille led to the well-known privilege of the Chapter of releasing a condemned criminal every Ascension Day. Charlemagne ..." 
  11. Clarke, S.; Engelbach, R. (1930). Ancient Egyptian Construction and Architecture. Dover books on Egypt. Dover Publications. ISBN 978-0-486-26485-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=L0Uiat5EAaMC. 
  12. Dinsmoor, W.B.; Anderson, W.J. (1950). The Architecture of Ancient Greece: An Account of Its Historic Development. Biblo and Tannen. ISBN 978-0-8196-0283-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=BqahvzeE39YC. 
  13. Willemsen, F. (1959) (in de). Die Löwenkopf-Wasserspeier Vom Dach des Zeustempels. Olympische Forschungen. de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-003144-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=CZxvcgAACAAJ. 
  14. Swaddling, J. (1980). The ancient Olympic Games. Published for the trustees of the British Museum by British Museum Publications. https://books.google.com/books?id=5tTfAAAAMAAJ. 
  15. null
  16. Hourihane, C. (2012). The Grove Encyclopedia of Medieval Art and Architecture. The Grove Encyclopedia of Medieval Art and Architecture. OUP USA. p. 642. ISBN 978-0-19-539536-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=FtlMAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA642. Retrieved May 11, 2018. 
  17. Weinstock, J.A. (2016). The Ashgate Encyclopedia of Literary and Cinematic Monsters. Taylor & Francis. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-317-04426-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=PHbeCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA248. Retrieved May 11, 2018. 
  18. "Holy Horrors". The National Trust Magazine: 66–68. Autumn 2007 
  19. Tschen-Emmons, J.B. (2015). Artifacts from Medieval Europe. Daily Life through Artifacts. ABC-CLIO. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-61069-622-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=K78oBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA72. Retrieved May 11, 2018. 
  20. Di Renzo, A. (1995). American Gargoyles: Flannery O'Connor and the Medieval Grotesque. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8093-2030-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=ES5eiv2VgzkC&pg=PA1. Retrieved May 11, 2018. 
  21. Bridaham, L.B. (1930). Gargoyles, Chimères, and the Grotesque in French Gothic Sculpture. Architectural Book Publishing Company, Incorporated. p. xii. https://books.google.com/books?id=yRcaAQAAMAAJ. 
  22. Varner, G.R. (2008). Gargoyles, Grotesques & Green Men: Ancient Symbolism in European and American Architecture. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-4357-1142-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=VYQIOw8HU0sC. 
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