Architects often used multiple gargoyles on a building to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimize potential damage from rainstorms. A trough is cut in the back of the gargoyle and rainwater typically exits through the open mouth. Gargoyles are usually elongated fantastical animals because their length determines how far water is directed from the wall. When Gothic flying buttresses were used, aqueducts were sometimes cut into the buttress to divert water over the aisle walls.
The term originates from the French gargouille Old French gargoule "conduit for waterflow" , composed of the onomatopoeic root garg- and the Old French goule "animal mouth, throat", [ 3 ] which remained dialectal or is otherwise known as the "gullet"; [ 4 ] [ 5 ] gullet is itself from Old French golet , diminutive form of gole older spelling of goule cf.
Italian also uses gargolla or garguglia , borrowed from Old French and French, when it has a grotesque shape. When not constructed as a waterspout and only serving an ornamental or artistic function, the technical term for such a sculpture is a grotesque , chimera, or boss. There are also regional variations, such as the hunky punk. Just as with bosses and chimeras , gargoyles are said to protect what they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits.
A French legend that sprang up around the name of St. Romanus French : Romain ; fl. Multiple versions of the story are given, either that St. Romanus subdued the creature with a crucifix, or he captured the creature with the help of the only volunteer, a condemned man. In each, the monster is led back to Rouen and burned, but its head and neck would not burn due to being tempered by its own fire breath. The head was then mounted on the walls of the newly built church to scare off evil spirits, and used for protection.
Romain, the Archbishops of Rouen were granted the right to set a prisoner free on the day that the reliquary of the saint was carried in procession see details at Rouen. The term gargoyle is most often applied to medieval work, but throughout all ages, some means of water diversion, when not conveyed in gutters, was adopted.
