8 Bizarre Things You Might Not Know About Christianity

6. Gargoyles and grotesques

Gargoyle on the west front at Salisbury Cathedral

Architecturally, a gargoyle is a carved grotesque outside a cathedral to convey water away from the sidewalls of a building, thereby preventing corrosion.

When not constructed for drainage and only ornamental purpose, the sculptures are referred to as ‘grotesques’ created to ward off evil forces outside the churches.

By the end of the Gothic period, the carvings of gargoyles grew more elaborate, and lighthearted human figures started appearing as comic relief more often than guardians.