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Grotesques is the generic term used to encompass the stone statues of mythical creatures popular during the Gothic era. Many use the term gargoyle to lump all of the demon-like stone creatures atop the Notre Dame Cathedral. Inside lay forgiveness, protection, and salvation. So, churches used gargoyles as a way to illustrate the sanctuary offered inside. This was important during the Gothic era because many people didn’t know how to read. Gargoyle statues serve as a physical reminder of the evil that exists in the world. And so, the villagers mounted it onto the outside of their new church to ward off evil spirits. In others, the priest used his crucifix to vanquish the dragon.Īfterward, they burned La Gargouille at the stake. In some versions, he did so by making the sign of the cross.

Upon the village’s conversion to Christianity, Romanus agreed to defeat La Gargouille. This cruel beast was said to terrorize the French village of Rouen until a priest named Romanus came to help. There was a popular French legend at the time of a terrifying, fire breathing dragon called “La Gargouille”. These spouts essentially act as drainpipes, protecting the building from erosion. These stone creatures were designed with spouts coming out of the mouth, which serves to filter rainwater away from the edge of a building. The word gargoyle gets its origins from the French word gargouille, which means throat or gullet. RELATED: 5 Myths About Angels And Demons That Just Won't Die Protection Of THe Building And as one of the world’s finest examples of Gothic architecture, it’s no wonder the Notre Dame Cathedral would include these figures, too. “It is indeed one of the most incredibly beautiful and important medieval cathedrals in the world,” New York-based travel agent and Paris expert Yaron Yarimi once told CNN.Ĭredit: Unsplash/Pedro Lastra Culturally Appropriateĭuring the time construction began on the now world-famous cathedral, gargoyles were a popular feature of the Gothic style.