In architecture, gargoyles, or gurgoyles (from the French gargouille, originally the throat or gullet, cf. Latin gurgulio, gula, and similar words derived from root gar, to swallow, the word representing the gurgling sound of water; Ital. doccione; Ger. Ausguss), are the carved terminations to a spout which conveys water away from the gutters. Gargoyles are mostly grotesque figures.

The term gargoyle is applied most often to medieval work, but throughout all ages some means of throwing the water off roofs, when not conveyed in gutters, was adopted. Yet, gargoyles have been found in Egypt, Greece, and other older cultures. Everywhere to the modern day.

Cargoyles, or more precisely chimerae, were used as decoration on 19th and early 20th century buildings in cities such as New York (where the Chrysler Building’s aluminum gargoyles are celebrated), and Chicago.

Statues representing gargoyle-like creatures are popular sales items, particularly in goth and New Age retail stores.

Gargoyles as a distinct race have featured in several works of fantasy fiction, such as Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Lets not forget Disney’s animated series, Gargoyles.

In a fantasy world, these are more than projections. They are animated. They could be constructs, spirit forms, or an actual species.

Some scholar types say there are seven types of phenomena that share this “heading”.

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