Famously monstrous and strange, gargoyles are a quintessential element of gothic architecture and there are no two that are exactly alike. I was continuously on the lookout for weird gargoyles and found they were not hard to come by in Paris.
Outside of Notre Dame de Paris with its many gargoyles
The word gargoyle comes the french word “gargouille” for throat, and appeared in gothic architecture beginning in 12th century. Though decorative, they serve an important architectural purpose. They were used as waterspouts to direct water away from a building or foundation, protecting it from erosion. Though often referred to as gargoyles, other decorative monsters that do not double as drainage are known as grotesques or chimeras.
The history of gargoyles can be traced back to multiple roots and can be found on some ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Greek architecture. Gothic gargoyles often take the form of mythological creatures or horrific monsters. There is some debate as to why gargoyles take such frightening forms; some say it is to ward off evil spirits, others say it is to represent evil and send church goers a frightening impression of hell, motivating them to seek salvation within the church. Gargoyles are never found inside a church because they are depictions of evil and therefore cannot enter the heavenly sacred space that churches were meant to be.
Photo Source:https://www.reference.com/history/gargoyles-notre-dame-cathedral-79eef6bdc5204bfa
People generally stopped putting gargoyles on their buildings around the 18th century because the old ones began to fall and cause damage. They began using drainpipes instead, which is not as cool, but understandable.