Gargoyles!




(Movie above: 1972 “Gargoyles” Made-For-TV fun and totally campy and creepy one of my cult fav’s)

There’s a lot of mythical creatures from minotaurs to fairies to gryphons, but my favorite of all time is the gargoyle. It started with the 1972 movie I caught on TV late night when I was a kid. It moved on to fixating on the Washington National Cathedral that has 100 gargoyles upon it. It was the only thing I was excited to see while in the city. My siblings wanted to go to the Washington Monument or Lincoln Memorial or Smithsonian or zoo. Not me. I wanted to walk around and stare at the Cathedral’s guardians.

Interestingly, I found this out about the cathedral: Every Saturday, the Cathedral hosts The Gargoyle’s Den, where kids aged 6-12 can get a better understanding of Cathedral’s construction with a hands-on arts and crafts program. Kids can try their hand at carving a real stone gargoyle and even make one out of modeling clay to take home. They can learn about and build arches, mosaics as well as having a chance to try their hand at making a stained-glass window. Apparently, they got wise to kid’s fascination with these creatures.

I like the idea of a building guardian. The lore behind gargoyles has undergone a lot of dilution over the centuries and its origins remain vague, but here’s what we think we know: Their origins are believed to be Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome and were originally used as waterspouts to drain water away from buildings. They were named for the gurgling sound they made as water passed through them. They were found on many cathedrals and other architecture. They went away for many centuries and then reappeared as a popular craze during the Victorian era. These ugly “demons” were believed to scare away evil spirits and protect buildings.

It’s almost impossible at Halloween time for me to pass by a Gargoyle statue without wanting to bring it home. I can’t even open up the Design Toscano catalog anymore. When I did my house with medieval castle themed items, I went to town with all the gargoyle stuff. Jeez, I like Gargoyles so much that even guys wearing Gargoyle masks at Halloween fascinate me. It’s a horrible affliction. I think it’s something about the grizzly face and the power, as well as the position as a protector.

Perhaps it's a "Beauty and the Beast" sort of appreciation for this frightening visage that has to me become endearing.

Comments

  1. Those are nice ones.

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  2. Just love the Gargoyles. Right now, I'm on my sofa working on writing my ghost book and staring up at the bookshelf with 3 gargoyles on it. I think I need more!

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  3. I love that gargoyle pic. Is that Notre Dame? I just find them so cool.

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  4. Yes, Notre-Dame Paris. They are beautiful beasts. I would love to some day convert an old church into a home and have gargoyles up on every corner staring down at approaching visitors with suspicion.

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  5. I've actually been to the Washington Cathedral. I've even been in the catacombs, not too far from the crypts.

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  6. HN;
    Isn't that a gothic town? I miss it. I always thought of Gotham whenever I was in town.

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  7. I love Gargoyles! A friend of mine went to France last year and brought back several really cool gargoyles items for me.
    And I feel the same way about the Design Toscano catalog. I think the pages of mine are all soggy from the drool....

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  8. Jeanne;
    Don't you know it! Yes, I adore Design Toscano. It's like Xmas when the catalog comes and I circle one thing on each page I would love to have. I'm such a kid about my medieval stuff.

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  9. Gargoyles are very cool. My ex use to collect them. I've seen some really neat ones when I was in Paris several years ago. I think I may add some to my collection at some point. They should fit nicely with the Victorian Mourning Collectibles I have!

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  10. Again, we are sisters separated at birth or just separated! I too would LOVE to convert and old church into a home. I've seen several and wish I could do just that!

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  11. T-Dear;
    Yes, you need a Coffin Table in front of your sofa and a morgue gurney as a buffet in the dining room. Hee hee. When Julie and I were in Prescott, a cute little old church in the old downtown area was for sale. My jaw about dropped!

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  12. I loves me my gargoyles, Sis' … you Gno that, as I voted in a past blogticle of yours, for gargoyles over any other monster, whether vampires, werewolves, & … uhm … the other category you offered. Hey, it was over a year ago, wunnit?

    Same sentiment on the Design Toscano™ cat'g. I just can't tantalise my(s)elf poring through what I can't afford.

    And I still love that TV flick made in '72. Awesomeness, esp. for its time.

    Remember the '94 Disney cartoon series, GARGOYLES & its spin off, The Goliath Chronicles? There were actually quite some nifty storylines in them. I wish I had 'em all on DVD.

    Bestest wishes, awe ways,
    Anadæ Quenyan Effro

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