Sunday, January 25, 2015

Gargoyle Definitions

What's the difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque? A chimera and a hunky punk? And what about a babewyn and a green man? Read on.

 

Gargoyle

An architectural term for a carved figure serving as a water spout on a building. Though gargoyles are technically functional drainage spouts, the term is now more generally used to refer to all grotesques.

Commonly represented beasts are lions, dragons, men, and perhaps most common of all are strange unidentifiable beasts – one of the reasons they hold so much mystery. 





Grotesque

An ornamental figure not meant to function as a water spout. 





Chimera

Refers more specifically to a mythological creature. (In other words, a gargoyle based on a person or a puppy would be less likely to be called a chimera.) 




Babewyn

A term from the Middle Ages to refer to both gargoyles and grotesques. 



Hunky Punk

A regional term from Somerset (south-west England) to refer to grotesques, especially squat-shaped ones that appear on churches.


Green Man

Commonly used as architectural ornaments on all sorts of secular buildings, these carvings are a face made of leaves or surrounded by them. 





Anthropomorphized building drainage spouts were first recorded in history in ancient Egypt. They reached the height of popularity in the Middle Ages on European cathedrals and churches, but are used on all types of buildings around the world and are still being carved to this day.

2 comments:

  1. Very interesting, I have a particular interest in Hunky Punks, as I live in Somerset and I enjoy hunting them down. Where did you get the photo of yours?

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    1. I found that fellow on the side of the Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church in Cambridge.

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