


Gargoyles are often attributed to medieval architecture, but have been used in some form or another for much longer.Īncient Egyptians used lion’s head carvings for this exact purpose.

There have been different ways to divert water from buildings, including elaborate stone gutter systems, but nothing so popular as the gargoyle. They divert water away from the buildings, which would otherwise dribble down the sides and erode the stone. Gargoyles were installed on buildings as an aesthetically pleasing solution to a practical problem. While more recent building designs have gargoyles on many surfaces to add to their aesthetic, the original gargoyles served a purpose beyond decoration.

Gargoyles often wear menacing expressions, sometimes to an outrageous point where they look cartoon-ish. They often have wings, but it is not a necessary part of the design. They usually have long ears, horns, or both. Gargoyles are stone carvings of demonic creatures. Let’s explore the history of gargoyles, the meaning behind gargoyle tattoos, and the fun pop culture places we can find these creatures in. What exactly are gargoyles, and how did they get so widespread? What was their original purpose beyond a cool design? There are also no shortage of pop culture references to gargoyles, so you can always customize your design with a reference to your favorite movie, TV show, comic book or video game. There’s so much a person can do with these images- whether they want something scary, something fun, or something in between. Gargoyles are so ingrained in pop culture you may not remember the first time you heard about them, but you know their name.īecause of their animated and sometimes comical ghoulish faces, gargoyles are a popular choice for tattoos. Looming from your city’s architecture, you know them when you see them: Gargoyles.Ī hundreds of years old tradition, gargoyles are present in both modern and historic buildings and are a “must” for anyone going for that Gothic architectural style.
