Read these facts taken from:
http://ils.unc.edu/garg/whatis1.html
A chimera has the head of a lion, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
The cathedral of the Middle Ages was to be a "sermon in stone" which could be
"read" by an illiterate population. Some gargoyles clearly fill this teaching
purpose by illustrating Bible stories,
Not all gargoyles were for religious instruction. Some were simply grotesque. One reason
for this is the belief that frightening figures could scare away evil spirits, and they
were put on the outsides of buildings to do just that.
You will find
that a large number of gargoyles have their mouths wide open and their tongues sticking
out. Why? The mouth pulled open is a frequent symbol of devouring giants. In order
to convey size in a small sculpture, much smaller figures are placed next to the
"giant". The act of pulling the mouth open is a threatening gesture. It
reminds us that we are vulnerable to forces larger than ourselves.
You will see
a lot of heads that have become detached from their bodies. This idea comes from the
5th Century Celts who were, in fact, head-hunters. They worshipped the heads that they had
cut off, believing them to hold a powerful force. Don't make eye contact with them!
To make it easier to convert pagans to Christianity, pre-Christian practices and symbols
were included into the rituals of the Catholic Church.
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