12. Gargoyles Were Meant To Ward Off Evil Spirits
Medieval, gothic architecture seems to be dominated with carvings of grotesque stone figures whose wide-open mouths conveniently serve as water spouts. Depictions of gargoyles in Western architecture can be found as early as ancient Egypt and Greece, and similar counterparts were discovered in Native American architecture. The carvings particularly dominate the outside of churches, though are not seen on the inside.
The reason why may simply be that the gargoyle was an image of the devil meant, ironically, to preserve the sanctity of the church and discourage people from falling into sin. Because much of Europe was illiterate during the Middle Ages, graphic depictions, such as gargoyle carvings, were often relied upon to teach people about the truths of the Bible. However, gargoyles are not anywhere in the Bible.
The first Christian use of the gargoyle, along with the term, came from St. Romanus, soon to be the Bishop of Rouen, during the seventh century. Allegedly, he encountered a bat-like monster that breathed fire. He defeated the creature with a crucifix. He scorched the beast, but its head and neck refused to burn. He mounted the head on the church to ward off evil spirits as a warning to any other evil creatures that might venture near the church.
