Not Just Halloween Leftovers: The Holy Origins of Gargoyles

Gargoyles weren’t just scary—they were sacred plumbing with a message
Not Just Halloween Leftovers: The Holy Origins of Gargoyles
Gargoyles at the Basílica del Voto Nacional. Delphine Ménard/CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
Nicole James
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Gargoyles are the most misunderstood misfits of medieval architecture.

The word “gargoyle” comes from Old French gargouille, meaning “throat,” which is entirely appropriate when you consider that their main gig was hurling rainwater off buildings via their stone gullets.

Nicole James
Nicole James
Author
Nicole James is a freelance journalist for The Epoch Times based in Australia. She is an award-winning short story writer, journalist, columnist, and editor. Her work has appeared in newspapers including The Sydney Morning Herald, Sun-Herald, The Australian, the Sunday Times, and the Sunday Telegraph. She holds a BA Communications majoring in journalism and two post graduate degrees, one in creative writing.