For centuries now, gargoyle sculptures have fascinated the public mind. These hideous carved creatures come in all manner of body mixtures, from human to animal. Gracing a myriad of doorways, graveyards and churches, these abominable statues, traditionally, protected from deterioration, the architecture they inhabited. But, in our modern times, their practical use has transformed into the symbolic, the commercial and the artistic.
A passerby might notice the sound of gargling water, when traveling past one of these curious sculptures. Thus, the term gargoyle is partially attributed to it. It is simple to conclude from this, that these statues served as parts of artfully designed, liquid drainage systems dealing mainly with rainfall. Hence, keeping the destructive erosion, done to buildings, by the weather, down to a minimum.
Superstitions have cropped up as a result of the grotesque appearances of these statues. Numbers of bird-faced humans and lion-headed snakes, to mention but a few, were thought to scare demons away. As well as acting as a deterrent for other less than savory elements, like would-be thieves and desecrators.
However, in these modern times, gargoyles have become the objects of more decorative, rather than functional use. The statues have been replicated as for gardens, walkways and in-home furnishings to name a few. It has even gone so far as to make it into novelty jewelry and stylized graphic shirts. As with common use, the more frightening elements of these ornamental sculptures have reduced to historical memory.
Adopted by the modern gothic sub-culture, gargoyles have found a home. As the interest in darker corners of the human psyche are of interest to this genre, the gargoyle history of taboo and religious locals have become a valued symbol. This affiliation the gargoyle seems have gained with complex subjects like God and death, has only added to the gothic predilection. Nevertheless, the annals of antiquity have all but swallowed their superstitious ancestry.
Obviously, the juggernaut of capitalization knows no bounds. Any entrepreneurial soul will attempt to make money off of something, if he or she finds there is a market for it. Unsurprisingly, gargoyles are not immune to this fact. As many whom identify with the gothic culture has an aesthetic taste for such disturbing sculpture.
Gargoyles, even in our modern era, can be discovered sneaking about in a multitude of places. As subtle accents that add to our personal decor, perhaps they, even, still make demons shy away. Let us hope so. Read more about: Gargoyle Sculptures
A passerby might notice the sound of gargling water, when traveling past one of these curious sculptures. Thus, the term gargoyle is partially attributed to it. It is simple to conclude from this, that these statues served as parts of artfully designed, liquid drainage systems dealing mainly with rainfall. Hence, keeping the destructive erosion, done to buildings, by the weather, down to a minimum.
Superstitions have cropped up as a result of the grotesque appearances of these statues. Numbers of bird-faced humans and lion-headed snakes, to mention but a few, were thought to scare demons away. As well as acting as a deterrent for other less than savory elements, like would-be thieves and desecrators.
However, in these modern times, gargoyles have become the objects of more decorative, rather than functional use. The statues have been replicated as for gardens, walkways and in-home furnishings to name a few. It has even gone so far as to make it into novelty jewelry and stylized graphic shirts. As with common use, the more frightening elements of these ornamental sculptures have reduced to historical memory.
Adopted by the modern gothic sub-culture, gargoyles have found a home. As the interest in darker corners of the human psyche are of interest to this genre, the gargoyle history of taboo and religious locals have become a valued symbol. This affiliation the gargoyle seems have gained with complex subjects like God and death, has only added to the gothic predilection. Nevertheless, the annals of antiquity have all but swallowed their superstitious ancestry.
Obviously, the juggernaut of capitalization knows no bounds. Any entrepreneurial soul will attempt to make money off of something, if he or she finds there is a market for it. Unsurprisingly, gargoyles are not immune to this fact. As many whom identify with the gothic culture has an aesthetic taste for such disturbing sculpture.
Gargoyles, even in our modern era, can be discovered sneaking about in a multitude of places. As subtle accents that add to our personal decor, perhaps they, even, still make demons shy away. Let us hope so. Read more about: Gargoyle Sculptures
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