As surprising as it may be, modern-day gutters are something relatively new in the World of architecture. Back in the days (say, thousand years ago) they had buildings with roofs and we are pretty sure they had rain as well. So then how did they divert the water away from the building without the Woodstock Gutter Cleaning Pros? With the gargoyle.

The word gargoyle originated in France and the modern-day term means “a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall”. An even stranger idea, the verb to gargle comes from that as well. Of course, the French didn’t invent gargling, but it became a viral term during XIII century France. The term stuck to it. It was later used for any animal-resembling statue that functioned as a waterspout. These gargoyles were built heavily during the Gothic era, but some modern buildings are still being constructed with such elements, or with contemporary versions of them, inspired by the original gargoyle.

Gargoyles are an artistic waterspout made by stone or marble. They decorate construction, typically near the roof of a building. They have a pipe going through their buttress and, in most cases, coming out of their wide-open mouths. The gargoyle directs the rainwater from the roof away from the masonry walls to protect the façade and aid in water proofing the building. The less water you have near the joining elements, the less likely to spring a water leak. If you see something that really resembles a gargoyle, but it doesn’t divert water, it’s called a grotesque. The grotesque has only decorative value without having any real function.

Gargoyles come in a variety of shapes and forms, but they usually share common features. They all have grotesque faces, devilish wings, long claws and overall evil look. You may be wondering if the early gargoyles were meant to scare off birds or intruders. Gargoyles have another function as well. They are used for protection against evil spirits. It is believed they are the guardians of the building they are installed onto and they scare any vile fiends. According to our experience though, even they are powerless against your favorite relatives or mother-in-law. This belief came from the old French legend of St Romanus, the bishop of Rouen.

As we know, the gargoyles’ origin can be traced way back to ancient times. While they were not called gargoyles, there are various remains from ancient Egypt and Greek buildings showing similar animal-themed waterspouts. The lion is regarded as the most powerful in the animal kingdom and was the most dominant shape back then. An excellent example is the Temple of Zeus with it’s 39 remaining lion-headed waterspouts. Originally they were 102, but  nothing lasts forever.The list of the most famous buildings with gargoyles frowning above us includes the Chrysler Building in NY, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Ulmer Munster in Germany, the Merton Chapel College in Oxford and many, many more.