I have been fascinated by gargoyles for quite a while now. A gargoyle is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout
designed to send water from a roof and away from the side of a building,
thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the
mortar between. I have been taking photos of gargoyles
during my trips to various countries and also to Hindu temples in India.
I would be putting up these photos separately. However when I
recently visited the Milano Cathedral in Italy I saw the structure
really studded with gargoyles. The Duomo has 3400 statues, 700 figures
and 135 gargoyles, including 96 large ones.
So presently let me focus on the gargoyles of Milano Cathedral
(Duomo di Milano).
Its construction of the
Cathedral in Milan, in Gothic style, started in 1386 by the
archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo, on the site of the former cathedral Santa Maria
Maggiore. Saint Carlo Borromeo reconsecrated the church in 1572. The main
spire, built in 1769, is 109 meters high and has on top a golden laminated
statue of the Madonna. The main construction of the cathedral including the
west facade were finished in 1813. Duomo is the seat for the Archbishop
of Milan and is dedicated to Saint Mary Nascent.
The
word gargoyle derives from the French gargouille,
meaning "throat." gargoyle, quite likely, comes from the French legend of "La Gargouille," a fearsome dragon
that terrorized the inhabitants of the town of Rouen.As the legend has it, around 600 AD, there lived a dragon called Gargouille
in a cave on the banks of the River Seine
near Rouen. It had wings, a reptile's body with a long tail, clawed feet, and
fiery eyes and breath. It spread terror amongst the inhabitants of the area
causing devastation and death, and its fury was placated only by human
sacrifices. It was St. Romanus who, according to
legend, arrived in the city and succeeded in
capturing the monster. The dragon's head and neck were placed on the walls of
Rouen, the ramparts defending a city. By the way,
I am planning to visit Rouen in November this year to take some photographs and learn more about this legend.
While the gargoyles prevent damage to the Cathedral and
can therefore be called as the protectors, it is difficult to link the
grotesqueness of their shapes to any technical reasons.These gargoyles
were inserted into the masonry and
therefore, depending upon their position with respect to the phases of
construction of the Cathedral, it is possible to determine the date when
they
were carved: from the end of the 14th century, to the 18th century, when
the walls of the last bays to be built were
completed with decorative and symbolic elements.
In an attempt to raise money for necessary repairs to the Duomo, authorities have
decided to create an 'adopt a gargoyle' scheme. Floaters of
the scheme are hoping to raise €25million, which will be
enough to cover all the repair costs. Any benefactor who contributes over
€100,000 (Indian Rupees 82,00,000 aprox.) to the cathedral will have their name inscribed
underneath a gargoyle. Reportedly so far, the cathedral have received eight donations of €100,000 as well as
several smaller donations.
A retired gargoyle in the Duomo museum.
The gargoyles on show in the museum are the works of anonymous masons. These were
removed to preserve them during the restoration work on the external walls of
the Duomo from the 1960s onwards.
(Text based on information sourced from the internet)
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