The word “Gargoyle” comes from the French word “gargouille” which means “throat” or “gullet”. This name references the original purpose of gargoyle statues – as a spout or gutter to move water away from a building. Usually this water was conveyed through the throat and mouth of the sculpture. Architects designed buildings with gargoyles to help minimize water damage to the building by channeling it away from the structure.
Gargoyles are an example of a “grotesque”, a fantastical creature carved from stone on the walls or roofs of buildings, to give them character and help ward off evil. They became popular in medieval times, during the “gothic architecture” era that lasted from the 1200s to the 1500s, continuing through the Renaissance period.
Gargoyle-like structures were also used in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, often in the shape of a lion’s head.
