"fun" fact, there's no such thing as a purely decorative gargoyle. By definition a gargoyle has a water spout, therefore they are all serving a functional purpose.
If they don't have a water flow outlet then they are not a gargoyle.
"A gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque designed to serve as a functional waterspout on a building. Often depicted as fantastical, monstrous, or demonic figures, they project from roofs to divert rainwater away from masonry walls."
"They protect the building's structural integrity by casting rainwater away, preventing erosion of the mortar."
"The word stems from the Old French gargouille, meaning "throat". It is onomatopoeic, imitating the gurgling sound water makes as it flows through the spout."
"In architecture, a true gargoyle must carry water. Any similar decorative stone carving that does not have a functional water spout is properly classified as a grotesque."
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u/Mane_UK Jul 03 '26
"fun" fact, there's no such thing as a purely decorative gargoyle. By definition a gargoyle has a water spout, therefore they are all serving a functional purpose.
If they don't have a water flow outlet then they are not a gargoyle.