5th and 6th-graders learned about gargoyles as a follow-up
to our castle project, and as part of our study of medieval art. After learning
about some of the folklore surrounding these bizarre sculptures, they designed
their own gargoyle. Students included what its physical features were used
for, what colors it would be, who it would guard, and where it would live, and
then they created them out of clay. Scales and paint provided the finishing touches.
Did you know…?
- The word GARGOYLE come from the French gargouille, which means throat
or gullet, and also from the Latin gurgulio, which means gurgling
sound
- What are they? Gargoyles are carved sculptures that convey water away from
the sides of buildings. They are somewhat like very decorative gutters.
- Gargoyles go all the way back to medieval times
- Legend claims that they were created to look like monsters in order to ward
evil spirits away from the buildings they were guarding
- Gargoyles were found on many churches, castles, and other buildings
- Characteristics of gargoyles usually included some combination of human and
animal characteristics, such as winged people with demonic features like horns,
talons, beaks, and tails
- We still have gargoyles amid us! The Chrysler building in New York is celebrated
for its enormous steel eagle gargoyles, and the National Cathedral in Washington,
DC, has a number of gargoyles, including one that looks like Darth Vader, a robot,
crooked politicians, and demons.
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