Gargoyles and chimeras are inhabitants of church cornices. The meaning of the gargoyle tattoo Gargoyle what does the symbol mean

They can be scary, but they can be funny, touching and even downright shameless; most often they can be found in Western Europe, where they decorate the cornices of ancient cathedrals in great abundance and variety. They are gargoyles and chimeras - bizarre creatures whose presence in a holy place seems strange and out of place. But this is only at first glance. What important mission did gargoyles perform, what they are like and how they differ from chimeras - this will be discussed further.

Legend of the Gargoyle

An ancient legend says that a long time ago, in a swamp, not far from Rouen, there lived a huge and terrible dragon. He did not allow the residents of the city to live in peace, sleep in peace, and even trade in peace, as he often attacked merchant ships that came to Rouen along the Seine. Moreover, in the dragon’s arsenal there were very different methods of intimidation; sometimes, depending on his mood, he breathed fire, and sometimes seething streams of water burst out of his mouth. To prevent the monster from completely destroying the city, local residents made annual human sacrifices to it. By the way, the dragon was female, and her name was Gargoyle.

The French word "Gargouille" itself comes from the Latin term for throat or pharynx and is very similar to the sound of gurgling water. Apparently, the dragon was given this name precisely because of his habit of often acting as a water cannon. Legends claim that thanks to this skill, the Gargoyle masterfully sank quite large ships and raised such a storm on the river that huge waves flooded city streets and flooded many buildings.
However, the time came, and justice was found for the monster in the person of Saint Roman of Rouen, who occupied the local episcopal see. By the way, Roman effectively fought not only against dragons, but also against pagans, for which he was later canonized.
Before going to pacify the monster, Roman spent a long time looking for an assistant. As a result, only a criminal sentenced to death agreed to help the bishop. A fight with a dragon seemed to him a better way out than the chopping block. Saint Roman decided to use his assistant as bait, and when the Gargoyle crawled out of her cave to feast on the human creature, the bishop, with a cross and prayers, deprived the monster of her will, and she, like a tame, lay down at his feet.
Then the story developed less touchingly. Despite the dragon's complaisance, the residents of Rouen decided to burn it, and they almost succeeded. However, they did not take into account that the Gargoyle’s throat and head, for obvious reasons, turned out to be non-flammable, and it was not possible to destroy them in this way. It was decided to place the remains of the unfortunate monster on public display as a symbol of the victory of the Holy Church over the forces of evil, and the cornice of the local cathedral was best suited for this purpose.

Over time, people got used to such an exotic decoration of the temple; moreover, residents of neighboring cities began to envy Rouen and wanted to have the same “decoration” on their cathedrals. But since the entire population of dragons in Europe had already been exterminated by that time, real trophies had to be replaced with stone ones.

Since the 11th century, sculptures of gargoyles (the name became a household name) adorned many religious buildings in Europe. Mindful of the monster's ability to spew water, architects began to use its stone counterparts as drains. That is why in many cathedrals there are entire companies of gargoyles, since one drain for a huge building was clearly not enough. Only in the century before last, people had mercy on their stone “servants” and freed them from work, giving the function of draining water to ordinary drainpipes.

What types of gargoyles are there?

Gargoyles on temples do not always depict a dragon; many look like very real animals or birds. All of them not only serve as a drain, but also carry a deep symbolic meaning, including personifying some of the seven deadly sins.

Lions- the only cats that can be found in the form of a gargoyle. Cats in the Middle Ages were considered witchcraft animals, so they were disliked, and the lion, always considered a symbol of pride and courage, according to the architects, was supposed to warn parishioners about the danger of falling into the mortal sin of pride.

Dogs- unlike cats, they were loved in the Middle Ages because they were considered a symbol of fidelity and devotion. But their appearance in the form of a gargoyle made people remember another mortal sin - greed. It's no secret that hungry dogs often steal food, and in the Middle Ages, when every bite counted, this was considered the machinations of the devil.

Wolf- Although they were afraid of wolves, they were respected for their ability to live in a large pack and unconditionally obey the leader. By the way, the priests themselves were often compared to the “leaders of the pack,” since they were called upon to unite parishioners around themselves in order to jointly resist evil and the squeaks of Satan.

Eagle– eagles were considered the only creatures, other than knights, who could defeat a dragon on their own. In addition, according to legend, they could heal themselves simply by looking at the sun.

Snake- a symbol of original sin. The personification of the struggle between good and evil. Snakes were considered immortal, and this once again proved that the confrontation between the devil and the divine would be eternal. Of the mortal sins, envy was associated with the serpent.

Goats and rams– were considered a symbol of lust, also one of the seven deadly sins. In addition, Satan himself was often depicted with goat legs.

Monkey- for a strange and incomprehensible reason, it personified laziness. Perhaps such a misconception arose among Europeans because it was just as difficult to meet a living monkey in the forests of the Old World as it was to meet a surviving dragon. I had to trust rumors, and they could be very far from the truth.

Chimeras

In ancient Greece, a chimera was an animal with the body of a goat, the head of a lion, and the tail of a dragon. Hesiod in his writings described another type of monster; according to his version, it had three heads: a lion, a goat and a rooster. Medieval chimeras were even more bizarre than the ancient ones and could combine the features of a wide variety of animals; only the principle of multi-composition remained the same.

Chimeras appeared on cathedral cornices much later than gargoyles, and unlike the latter, they were completely useless. As a rule, they simply served as grotesque decoration, symbolizing the power of the devil, who could give birth to terrible and strange creatures. By the way, some chimeras could have anthropomorphic features. Among the humanoid chimeras there are both frankly creepy and frankly comical characters.

Of course, such “decorations” could not exist with people for long without becoming the heroes of numerous legends. Over time, chimeras began to be attributed magical properties; there were rumors that terrible creatures came to life every night, and if the temple was in danger, they could come to life during the day in order to mercilessly deal with the enemy.

Gargoyles of Notre Dame

The most famous gargoyles and chimeras live on the eaves of Notre-Dame de Paris. You can see them from below only by coming close to the wall of the cathedral and raising your head up.
Legends say that in the matter of depicting gargoyles, the sculptors of Notre Dame were given complete freedom of creativity. There were some oddities, for example, one master disliked his mother-in-law so much that he captured her in the form of a gargoyle, not realizing that he had thereby immortalized her image through the centuries.

By the way, throughout the Middle Ages the facade of the main cathedral of Paris was decorated only with gargoyles. The gallery of famous chimeras was added much later, only in the 19th century. At that time, a large-scale restoration was carried out in the cathedral; the building was repaired after the destruction caused to it by the events of the Great French Revolution. Now the gallery of chimeras is located right at the base of the towers, at a height of 46 meters, and to get there, you need to overcome almost 400 steps of a steep staircase.

True, there is a version that chimeras at the cathedral existed before; they were installed here in the 14th century, after the defeat of the Templar Order and the execution of its Grand Master Jacques de Molay. Moreover, all the chimeras had goat heads, which depicted Baphomet, a strange creature that the Templars were accused of worshiping.
Many of Notre Dame's chimeras have their own stories and names. For example, the most famous of them is called Strix. Her image has long become a textbook and it is her that most people first imagine when they hear the word “chimera.” According to legend, this strange, brooding creature only looks like stone, but at night it spreads its wings and soars around the cathedral. Parisians still believe that the Strix can kidnap a baby carelessly left unattended, so mothers in the vicinity of Notre Dame must always be on their guard.

Another famous chimera of Notre Dame Cathedral is baby Dedo. Tradition says that one day a nun from a provincial monastery visited the temple. Having looked at the terrible gargoyles and no less fearful chimeras, she decided to add a more charming character to their company. The nun herself carved out of stone a cute figurine with the body of a child and the face of an incomprehensible animal. She named her creation Dedo and secretly installed it among the other chimeras of the cathedral.

For a long time, the residents of Paris did not suspect that another inhabitant had appeared in the gallery of chimeras. Only chance helped declassify baby Dedo. The son of one of the cathedral employees was playing on the roof and almost fell down. While falling, the boy managed to grab onto one of the stone chimeras and only thanks to this he avoided inevitable death. Little Dedo turned out to be the boy's unwitting savior. Since then, the good chimera has enjoyed great love from the residents of Paris, who are confident that Dedo is able to fulfill any desire if you sincerely ask him about it.
Everyone who has seen the Notre Dame chimeras with their own eyes claims that these eerie creatures are damn charming. They are so expressive that taking pictures with them is completely useless; a living person next to them seems like a soulless doll.

Chimeras today

The image of chimeras has become so popular that nowadays they are found not only in churches, and not even only in Europe. Tokyo, Seoul, New York and Philadelphia have their own chimeras. There are chimeras in Russia, for example, on the building of the conservatory in Saratov.

Gargoyles and chimeras were created to frighten people, but as a result they fascinate and enchant. They should be feared, but people go to them to make wishes. Apparently, these strange creatures really have a certain magical power, the nature of which we will never be able to unravel.

Is it possible to say for sure what kind of creatures these demons are? Who are they really, what do they look like, what can they teach a person and how can they harm? Since ancient times, evil creatures have been opposed to angels and gods; they were feared and expelled, trying to protect themselves from harmful desires.

In different cultures, demons have their own names and guises, but they are all a reflection of the darkness in the soul of each individual person, his personal fears and dark temptations. And the man who dared to do tattoo of a demonic creature, is often an atheist or a supporter of non-classical religious movements.

Demonology in tattoos. General information

Demonology- a diverse, complex and, undoubtedly, mysterious pyramid of bestiary and mythological characters. In general, demons can be classified into one of two main categories - hell demons and gargoyles. The definition of a specific tattoo directly depends on the personality of the chosen demon. The meaning of “demon tattoo” can include a whole range of mythological demonic characters, who most often differ markedly in their characteristics, and sometimes have completely opposite meanings.

A powerful winged demon with skulls, made on the back in black and white colors

Underworld Demon Tattoo

When applying a tattoo of a certain representative of the world of demons, a person often wants to identify himself with precisely those qualities or vices with which he associates this or that demon. Most often, in tattoos, demons that identify the opposite of a deity are depicted with torn wings, a forked tail and horns, and the sketch is made in black and white or red, in different shades of gray and brown.

Magnificent glowing demon with many faces

Gargoyle tattoo

As for gargoyles, despite their belonging to demonic creatures, they have exclusively positive qualities, belong to the light side of the universe, and also play the role of a talisman. And this is not surprising, because since ancient times, stone gargoyle statues have protected the entrance to a church or cathedral from evil spirits.

One of the most popular images of a stone gargoyle with red glowing eyes

The most common demon tattoos

• Azrael is a poisonous, many-eyed angel of death with a sword, helping a person make the transition to another world;
• Balthazar is an insidious and cruel demon, the son of an ordinary mortal and a demoness;
• Beelzebub is the henchman of the devil himself, an evil spirit personifying gluttony;
• Mephistopheles is a powerful fallen angel with pronounced angular features, a pointed nose and a goatee beard;
• Ronwe and the oracle Orobas are demon scientists. The first rewards a person with understanding of any language; the second - provides reliable information about any historical event and predicts the future.

Of course, high-quality work often does not encourage you to think about the meaning of the tattoo and simply makes you admire the work of art. But still, do you think the photo shows a demon or a devil?

Important! Sketches of demons should not be confused with the devil, since they carry completely different meanings. The demon “giving wisdom” is, first of all, a temptation, the main goal of which is to awaken the fall of even the most innocent person, as well as the protection of evil spirits, temptation and deceit. Images of demons are for the most part suitable for people gripped by a forbidden passion that literally eats them from the inside. A tattoo of a demon photo in such cases helps to overcome temptations, and the tattoo serves as a reminder of this struggle. Before getting a tattoo with a similar image, research demonology deeper, make sure that the design you choose belongs to a demon, find out its name and all its inherent attributes!

Demon tattoo sketch is classic, also looks beautiful in color

Reviews of people who stuffed the demon

I recently read a book where one of the main characters was the demoness Kitsune, who takes the form of a beautiful, sophisticated, wise and seductive woman. Almost immediately I got a tattoo of a fox girl, without really worrying about the meaning, since I just really liked the heroine. When I read scientific and mythological articles about this character, I became doubly pleased with the new tattoo)

Svetlana, Tyumen

From early childhood I was fascinated by Japanese culture and mythology; I always liked the warlike spirit, wisdom and mystery of the East. My parents didn’t approve of my hobbies and even tried to forbid me to read literature of this kind, so I didn’t even mention a tattoo on a similar topic in front of them. As soon as I turned 18, I immediately ran to the tattoo parlor with a sketch I had long chosen and prepared. The master created a stunning image of the demon Rokurokubi. I'm incredibly happy!

Vyacheslav, Moscow

I have long wanted to get a huge tattoo on my back with a demonic theme, but I couldn’t finally decide on a design because I wanted to depict the confrontation and unity of good and evil. The photo of an angel and a demon seemed too banal, common and even hackneyed to me. When he turned to the salon for advice, the master showed a stunning, hand-drawn sketch of a demon and a gargoyle. I got the tattoo immediately) My relatives, of course, are not happy about it, but all my friends who are the same age admire the real work of art on my body.

Kolya, Rostov-on-Don

Video: drawing a demon - sketch

Demon tattoos in the photo

Demon Tattoo Sketches

Tattoos have long ceased to be an attribute of only sailors and robbers; in the modern world, ordinary people decorate themselves with them to emphasize their individuality or remind themselves of something. In this case, the meaning of the gargoyle tattoo can serve its owner as a brake when he decides to stumble again.

Tattoos of demonic creatures have long been not uncommon, and the presence of one on a person does not at all mean that he belongs to any sect. Yes, most likely, such people are not particularly religious at all.

One of the most popular images of demonic creatures among tattoos is the gargoyle. This image has many meanings. From a religious point of view, a person who chooses this image for a tattoo repents of his sins.

Legends say that gargoyles are the souls of repentant sinners. In this case, the tattoo will be a reminder to the person that sooner or later he will have to answer for his actions. Although it is possible that the tattoo was chosen because of the beautiful picture, and the bearer of the image is simply interested in Medieval culture and mysticism.

Below you can see several examples of photos of gargoyle tattoos.

Gargoyle in other sources

In the beliefs of some peoples of the European part of our continent, the gargoyle is a protective symbol. Gargoyle sculptures can often be found on cathedrals and temples in.

The world's most famous gargoyle statues can be seen at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Only in Gothic cathedrals were they used as metal or stone decor that decorated drainpipes. Ordinary gutters were decorated with scary faces to give the building an aesthetic appearance.

If you look closely at photographs of Gothic cathedrals, you can see pieces of pipe protruding from the mouth of some of the sculptures. Gargoyles were believed to protect against the invasion of evil spirits and demons. They have a strange concept of a holy place, that is, a temple: is it protected by demons from the forces of evil? Why does the temple need such protection if it has another? This is a temple.

Meaning for women

Women's tattoos, as a rule, have mainly aesthetic meaning. And the gargoyle tattoo is no exception. Different styles of tattoos allow you to create an original decoration from any image. However, the gargoyle is not a very popular design among the female half of society.

Ladies generally prefer tattoos of modest sizes, while complex, realistic images require more space. The meaning of a gargoyle tattoo does not change depending on the gender of its wearer.

Analyzing foreign literature, we can identify three main meanings of the gargoyle tattoo, according to the Basurman worldview:

• Mascot,
• Amulet from negative influences from outside,
• Reminder of sins.

In Slavic culture, such images were not used, monsters were not chosen as amulets, therefore, such an image does not evoke anything other than a reminder of sins.

Meaning for men

Europeans much more often choose this image in the classic black and white version. Less often you can find an image of a gargoyle in color.

The most popular place for tattoos are; demonic entities in complex, realistic techniques look especially colorful. And the male half usually puts a deeper meaning into their tattoos than just aesthetics.

Gargoyle tattoos can often be found on the arms. If a tattoo is made not only for the sake of aesthetics, but there is a meaning behind it, then such an image means that no evil will be committed with these hands.

Men tend to choose bright, catchy themes using black and gray shades. Colored options are less common.

In Greek mythology, it is a supernatural entity that determines a person's destiny. Mediator between their gods and people.

However, the most common meaning of a gargoyle tattoo is the demonic principle in a person, a tendency to vices and awareness of this. The gargoyle also symbolizes the forces of chaos, harnessed by the divine principle, and its terrifying wings and claws are designed to protect its owner. If we turn to mythology in architecture, we can often see these creatures on the shoulders of sinful people.

becauseilive more

When I was in high school, some of my friends told me about an abandoned mansion down the dirt road off Route 537 in Springfield. It was covered behind trees, opposite a corn field, which came in handy for hiding a car between the rows of corn stalks when we went there one afternoon. Police officers regularly patrol the old dirt road; mansion of a famous site for penetration. You couldn't even see the structure because of the Thick Pine. But my friends had been there before, so I knew the way. I will never forget when we entered the clearing, twenty seconds. Suddenly the massive trees parted and a huge three-story mansion stood in front of me. I was prepared for the first time we went there; I have never seen anything like it in my seventeen years on earth. It was a huge, massive Gothic villa with crosses on the tops and a dome on the roof. And there were gargoyles everywhere along the bottom of the roof. It is these Gotchi touches on the intricate crosses and looming gargoyles that made him most memorable at first glance. On the left side there was what looked like some kind of shed (I later found out this was called a portecochere, and this is where horse-drawn carriages would pull before disembarking their passengers.) The windows and doors were boarded up, but we were able to get through the window into a small basement . Shadowed by a dense mass of overgrown trees and no electricity at all, the house was shrouded in darkness and I couldn't see anything as we crossed the basement and headed up the stairs to the first floor, but I knew I was surrounded by a mess of boxes or furniture or whatever. something cluttered space underground.

On the first floor there was a ceremonial grand staircase, which spiraled up to the third level, but we won’t climb it, no matter what the day. Instead we explored the ground floor with its confusing, disorienting layout, passing through door after door leading into the hall. It was magnificent, even with the deterioration and rampant vandalism, you could tell this place was special. It was already late and something had spooked us, we left with plans to return when it was light outside.

Gargoyles are grotesquely carved stones with spouts designed to route water from the roof and facade during rain. From the French gargouille and the Latin gurgulio, both meaning "throat" or "esophagus", gargoyle construction dates back to the ancient Greeks. They became more popular in medieval times (around the 1200s) and were used throughout Europe, Egypt and Greece to drain water. According to legend from 631 BC. BC, the chancellor of King Clothar II saved the country around Rouen from a monster called Gargouille. The creature was captured by a single volunteer—a condemned human. The grotesque feature of the gargoyle was supposedly to scare away evil spirits. As such, the gargoyle became a symbol of protection.

Beginning in the 19th century, gargoyles or chimeras were widely used as decoration on city buildings and churches, with the emphasis no longer on water intakes. Gargoyles were now placed on important buildings as a symbol of protection. The Gargoyle myth states that gargoyles can stand indefinitely and ward off evil spirits—which is why they must be scary and disfigured. They only come to life at night, and gargoyles with wings can fly around protecting the entire village at dusk, returning to their post when the sun rises.

Gargoyle tattoo photo gallery