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January 5, 2007
gargoyles
i love gargoyles. they are described as grotesque - and placed on roof gutters as waterspouts. gothic in nature, their twisted ugliness is suppose to scare off evil spirits.
the word gargoyle means "throat" in french and was coined to sound like the gurgling of water passing through our larynx. a careful study of these carved art shows that its inspiration stems from mythological creatures - like sphinx, centaurs, minatours, satyrs or a gross combination of the lot.
on a more interesting note - conspiracy theorists believe that the gargoyles are codes that marks ownership, and only members of secret societies are able to interpret this hidden language. these fantasy creatures are everywhere - on flags, emblems, corporate logos, coat of arms, buildings and so on.
i've been collecting gargoyle pictures for years, here's one of my favourites - Gargouille de Notre Dame, the famous stryge (archaic french word for vampire) chimera contemplating the Parisian sunset.

posted by nyx at January 5, 2007 11:35 PM
Comments
parisian sunsets best seen from the Eiffel tower with a bird in your arms, smooching and not paying any attention to the cold biting wind
Posted by: Dickybird at January 29, 2007 1:56 PM
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