Here's
a little piece I wrote a while ago:
It's
past Beltane. The harsh season of the God has given way to the warmth
and sun of the Goddess's reign. The circle of life is complete once
more. The Otherworld Gates of Death have closed, and we can relax
alone in the cool shade of a stately college hall, an ornamental
arch, or even a turn-of-the-century church.
Except...
The
shade suddenly feels a little darker, the atmosphere a bit fey, and
you don't feel as alone as you thought. You look side to side to see
empty lawn or street, you look down at the totally normal concrete or
grass,... and then, you look up. It's eyes peer down at you. It's
mouth grins in a toothy smiles, or gapes in a round, eternal, howl.
It's stone wings spread over your head as it watches your every move.
Is it a demon? Is it a dark soul, something left behind when the
Gates of Death clanged shut?
Relax!
Take a breath! You're in the presence of gargoyles, and they mean
you no harm!
Classical
gargoyles have been described as “carved, grotesque stone spouts”
to divert water from a roof. That ugly beastie hanging over your
head is part of a gutter system! Well, at least that's how it all
started out.
The
name “gargoyle” comes from the French word “gargouille”,
meaning “throat” or “gullet”. It is related to the Latin
word “gutgulio” meaning “to swallow”, and shares the same
root as our English word “gargle”.
Even
though we find most gargoyles as part of medieval buildings, there
are some older examples. In ancient Egypt, gargoyles removed water
from the roofs of temples where sacred vessels were washed. In
Greece and Pompeii, gargoyle-like lions diverted water from the
rooftops of sacred buildings. Perhaps the best known gargoyles in
the world are found in Paris at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. But
that's not the only thing lurking on its stone walls. It also has it
shares of “chimeras” - figures similar to gargoyles which do NOT
divert water. The term “gargoyle” is commonly used for both,
however.
Gargoyles
can be hideous monsters, caricatures of real people ( such as
disliked monks, and clergy), or comical animals. They appear on the
sides of contemporary buildings and churches as well, such as the
Chrysler Building in NYC, and the National Cathedral in Washington
DC. In fact, in the 1990's when renovations were being done, the
cathedral held a competition. They wanted children to submit designs
for the new gargoyles. One of the winners was the head of Darth
Vader! He is now part of the western wing of the building exterior.
In
Europe, the trend continues. Here are some from France:
And
a particularly naughty one from Germany:
Humm...yes
well....
Why
have gargoyles in the first place? Your house or apartment/flat has
gutters, no doubt, and YOU don't have huge, winged critters spitting
down on YOU. Well, it all started with the legend of Saint Romain, a
French bishop. He is said to have saved his village from a dragon
named “gargouille”. He tamed it, and led it into town where it
was slain. The head was hung on the church wall. Thereafter, it was
considered lucky to carve his visage on the walls of churches.
That's
the legend, but there have been many more reasons put forth for their
existence. Gargoyles are said to frighten any evil from the
premises, much as jack o' lanterns do at Samhain. They were suppose
to show sinners what awaits them in the next world, if they did not
repent. Some of the comical figures could even be priests or
officials who were slow to pay the stonemasons!
Some
figures and faces may even be of pagan origin. The Green Man – a
male face composed of leaves or other foliage, or a face with vines
coming from its mouth – may have been deliberately carved into
Christian churches by pagan artisans, especially if that church was
built on a site sacred to the Old Religion (as many were).
Today,
we can find gargoyles anywhere, from bank buildings to the institutes
of learning. Here, for instance, are a few from the hallowed halls
of Princeton University in New Jersey:
Now
a days, you can have gargoyles of your own. There are shops that
sell nothing BUT gargoyle reproductions in every size from lawn
statues to key chains. Many specialty furniture and décor
catalogs, such as Design Toscano, carry a wide and unusual selection.
Enjoy
the Beltane season; it's a lovely time of year, when things bloom and
beauty surrounds us. But if you happen to look up, and see a
gargoyle leering down, know that he is just doing his job, standing
guard until darker times return.
(All American pictures taken by Keith Filarowitz)
