Monday 6 February 2012

Grotesque

I've blogged about these things before but I couldn't resist putting up another one.


This one is on a different corner of the same church tower. Rather wonderful isn't he?

But what sort of creature? Some kind of lion with cloven hooves?

And what possessed those 12th Century builders to put him up here among the saints and apostles?

If anyone knows do comment!

33 comments:

  1. These are all over old Somerset Churches, wonderful photo. I love the expression on the face, I have days like that!

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  2. My first thought was "hippogriff", but that should have the head of an eagle.

    Also IIRC these "ugly or monsterous" gargoyles were supposed to scare of certain types of deomon.

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  3. He's lovely. Looks very jolly and cheeky. I do like to see these - they have a certain magic to them.

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  4. Hi Paul, I can relate to that - I was having a day like that today ;-)

    I think you're right about that, Ken.

    And Abi - I agree - very magical :-)

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  5. I love gargoyles - they're kind of cute, really. I think they were put there to ward off evil spirits. I'm stopping by from the campaign to say hello - new follower here!

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  6. I thought gargoyles were supposed to ward off bad spirits or something like that. They look so cool.

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  7. It looks like a delusional dog, about to try to fly. Someone ought to explain the importance of wings, and the likely consequences of not having any. Evolution has not been kind.

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  8. hi - fellow campaigner and fellow Brit - I'm from the east coast and the sci fi group

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  9. Stopping by to say hello from the Campaign. I'm in your MG/YA group. Looking forward to the awesomeness.

    And your blog is sweet. Following! :)

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  10. And what possessed those 12th Century builders to put him up here among the saints and apostles? Maybe they didn't. Maybe they just arrived : )

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  11. wow, that is some stonework only its mother could love :)

    thanks for stopping by, and i look forward to reading more about your work!
    gina

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  12. Impressive creature. I smell a seed idea for a new wip. Too bad I'm on a new draft ban this year.
    Nice to meet you. I'm a fellow campaigner.

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  13. Just stopping by to say hi! I'm in short stories, Sci-fi, fantasy and YA of Rachael Harrie's Writers' Campaign. I've been a part of Rachael's campaign for a while now. It's amazing how we can network like this and meet some many awesome people.

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  14. Gargoyles surely protect the saints. ;)

    I'm a fellow campaigner and a ROW80'er too -I recognise your blog from one of my blog-surfing moments. :)

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  15. It's a lamb, isn't it? With fluffy wool and his tongue sticking out. Must be a hot day.

    Hi from the campaign!

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  16. Aw, I think it's quite charming. Granted, I don't want it jumping off the building and stalking me around, but where it is is fine. ;)

    Nice to meet you!

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  17. I think with all the curls it might be a sheep. That would also fit a church setting. BTW, I'm a fellow Campaigner from the YA/MG group.

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  18. Wow - I'm away for only a couple of days and so many lovely new people have stopped by from Rach's campaign. I'm looking forward to visiting all your blogs!

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  19. First thing I thought of when seeing that was a falling goat. That's probably not what its supposed to be but its what came to mind.
    I found you in the sci fi list in the campaign and thought I would stop by to say hello.

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  20. Hi, fellow campaigner. I'd just call it a gargoyle, and it's a nice ugly one. :)

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  21. Hi Kate. Just dropping in as an Origins Blogfest co-host, and am now your newest follower. Nice to meet you!

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  22. Ok, further to my last, and more developed: I was sort of thinking about how, once you know why gargoyles are, they can become a jumping off point for all sorts of "low fantasy" stories, and in any period. "Benton, chap with wings, 5 rounds rapid!"

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  23. Dropping by from the Origins blogfest. :)
    That fellow must have an interesting story, having hung out there for years.

    your newest follower,
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  24. Obviously one of Paddy's friends from St Patrick's Gargoyle. I'm stopping by from SF group in the Campaign. Is it possible to follow you via email?

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  25. Stopping by from the Campaign! It's so nice to *meet* you!! Following along :)
    Tag, you're it! You've been tagged in a game of 11 Questions being passed around by the Platform-Building campaigners. You can pick up your questions at this link: http://writeskatedream-jmckendry.blogspot.com/2012/02/11-random-questions-go.html

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  26. I love all those creepy creatures! Great pic.

    Stopping by from the campaign. :)

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  27. Love it! I just read Neil Gaiman's story about the gargoyle that protected a man's heart...

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  28. Nice to meet you! Fellow Campaigner and new follower here! ^_^

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  29. Hi fellow campaigners! I'm looking forward to getting involved in this!

    BTW, just to clarify - although I'm sure you all already know this - the creature in the picture isn't a gargoyle, it's a grotesque. Note, there's no water spout. :-)

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  30. I agree with a sheep or lamb. My understanding is that gargoyles protect the structure they sit upon. Could be wrong...

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  31. They sometimes put up figures representative of alchemical literature on old churches and cathedrals. I wouldn't know which creature that is supposed to be in this case.

    Welcome from a fellow campaigner!

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