Gargoyle

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
justscience
Junior Lexiterian
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:55 pm

Gargoyle

Postby justscience » Mon May 09, 2022 5:22 am

Originally, an architectural feature to direct drained rainwater out and away from a building, a spout. In classic Roman architecture, lion figures were used. During the middle ages, grotesque creatures came into fashion and is how the word is thought of today.

bbeeton
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 552
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2020 11:34 am
Location: Providence, RI

Re: Gargoyle

Postby bbeeton » Mon May 09, 2022 12:05 pm

I'm reminded of the story (possibly apocryphal) of the old Princeton grad, who, unable to contribute monetarily, offered to pose for a gargoyle.

But the original meaning *is* still relevant. When last I wandered around Paris, I saw a number of such structures almost at ground level, decorative, but not necessarily grotesque, that fulfilled their intended function quite effectively.

At the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, there is a distinction made between gargoyles and grotesques, and there are many of both. Marvelous images can be found of them on the web, and if one has time, well worth looking for them. Even better to visit (with camera) to see them for oneself.


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