In 2012, Milan's Duomo came up with a pretty cool fundraising idea. In order to come up with the necessary funds to support restorations efforts, this massive Gothic cathedral decided to put its 135 gargoyles up for adoption. Donors could pick a gargoyle to contribute to, receiving a little name plaque underneath "their" gargoyle. This article on swide.com… Continue reading Gargoyle of the Day: Duomo, Milan
Tag: Gothic
Gargoyle of the Day: St. Vitus, Prague
The rooster is one of early Italian St. Vitus's attributes, so it's quite fitting that a rooster gargoyle can be found on his beautiful Gothic church in Prague. Some people think that this figure depicts an eagle. I disagree, but I can understand how one might come to that conclusion without knowing about the saint's association to the rooster.… Continue reading Gargoyle of the Day: St. Vitus, Prague
Gargoyle of the Day: Melrose Abbey, Scotland
I've recently been reading a book about the history of British myths and legends concerning dragons, so it made sense to me that today's gargoyle should be from the United Kingdom. I was looking for some sort of dragon-like gargoyle but fell in love with this bagpipe-playing pig instead. Isn't he charming? I found him via ferrebeekeeper's blog; look there… Continue reading Gargoyle of the Day: Melrose Abbey, Scotland
Gargoyle of the Day: Windsor Castle, England
I've noticed that many of the quirkiest and most unique gargoyles that catch my eye are from England. This little man looks almost like he could be a cartoon character or a figure in an animated movie about the Middle Ages.
Gargoyle of the Day: St. John’s Cathedral, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Technically, these little fellows are grotesques rather than true gargoyles, but who cares when they're so charming? Apes, monkeys, and related creatures had rather poor connotations in the Middle Ages, symbolizing a variety of evils and sins including greed and lust, but this pair is depicted with a touching humanity nonetheless.
Basilique Royale de Saint-Denis (WordPress Writing 101 Prompt #17)
Today’s prompt didn’t particularly interest me or feel like a good fit for this blog, but the additional challenge was to write in a style different from my usual one, which I liked a lot. I like my writing to flow and include lots of description; I never skimp on the words. Therefore, I decided… Continue reading Basilique Royale de Saint-Denis (WordPress Writing 101 Prompt #17)
Gargoyle of the Day: Reims Cathedral, France
This gargoyle is so strange! From the differences in the stone, I assume that the creepy head is a later alteration or restoration, but I'm still not sure what the figure is supposed to represent. The words "crazed donkey" come to mind, however.
Gargoyle of the Day: St. Giles, High Kirk of Edinburgh
My Facebook friend Sara requested gargoyles of the Scottish Highlands for my next gargoyle of the day. Unfortunately, I haven't had any luck tracking down photos of specifically Highland gargoyles. So many of the gorgeous churches out there are in such a state of ruin that in most cases, whatever gargoyles they may have once had… Continue reading Gargoyle of the Day: St. Giles, High Kirk of Edinburgh
Gargoyle of the Day: Notre Dame de Paris
In gargoyles, as in most other things, you can never go wrong with the classics. This mysterious and slightly menacing chimera resides on Notre Dame in Paris. I imagine that he would look quite creepy and expressive at night, and I can completely understand why do many writers (at all levels of success) have been inspired by gargoyles.
Gargoyle of the Day: Westminster Abbey, London
I'm quickly becoming obsessed with the gargoyles of Westminster in London. I think they just have such a unique character that sets them apart from the rest. This little guy is more of a grotesque than a true gargoyle, but his charm is exactly the variety that I'm talking about. You can see more of the Westminster gargoyles in this… Continue reading Gargoyle of the Day: Westminster Abbey, London
