What is the difference between a grotesque and a gargoyle?

What is the difference between a grotesque and a gargoyle?

Basically, grotesques are decorative stone carvings on old buildings, usually the heads of strange and ugly creatures, whereas gargoyles are spouts in the form of grotesque human or animal figures projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building.

Is a gargoyle a dragon?

The word gargoyle derives from the French gargouille, meaning “throat.” This would appear to take its inspiration from the statues’ water-siphoning gullets, but in fact the name comes from the French legend of “La Gargouille,” a fearsome dragon that terrorized the inhabitants of the town of Rouen.

What is considered a gargoyle?

In architecture, and specifically in Gothic architecture, a gargoyle (/ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/) is a carved or formed grotesque 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.

What are gargoyles that don’t spout water?

Grotesques do not have a water spout like gargoyles, but are simply stone carvings, or paintings of creatures. They can be used as protection like gargoyles, or decorative paintings, and sculptures. Another name for a grotesque, is a chimera. These are mythical creatures very similar to grotesques.

How are gargoyles born?

Instead of live birth, gargoyles hatch from eggs. The gestation period lasts for six months, but they take 10 years to hatch, and female gargoyles can only lay one egg every two decades at ages 50, 70, and 90. Gargoyles only reproduce during these seasons, which are linked to the natural biorhythms of the earth.

Why do old churches have gargoyles?

The precise purpose of gargoyles was to act as a spout to convey water from the upper part of a building or roof gutter and away from the side of walls or foundations, thereby helping to prevent water from causing damage to masonry and mortar.

What is a female gargoyle?

Demona, like all gargoyles, has physiology distinctly different from the human species. While she is vaguely humanoid in shape, but with wings and a tail, many gargoyle bodily functions are distinctly non-human. For example, all gargoyle females lay eggs just as monotremes do.

Does Hogwarts have gargoyles?

Gargoyles are a semi-sentient stone creatures used as guards for rooms in Hogwarts. A stone gargoyle blocks the entrance to the Head’s Office. It steps aside when the correct password is given to enter (CS11). A stone gargoyle is used as a water spout in the Potions dungeon (PA17).

Is there cursing in Harry Potter?

There are no swear words in the books. Rowling’s editor wouldn’t allow it, although she has said Ron would have swore a lot. Instead, he often says “bloody hell”.