Are Gargoyles Evil or are they just misunderstood?

Contrary to popular belief, gargoyles are not demonic creatures. In fact, they have been used as protectors of churches and other religious buildings for centuries.

Gargoyles are known for their unique and often grotesque appearance, but their purpose goes beyond just being decorative. They were originally designed to protect buildings from rainwater by directing the water away from the walls and foundation.

Over time, gargoyles became associated with warding off evil and protecting the buildings they adorned.

The metal gargoyle pour spout on our bottle to symbolize the protection and purity of our spirits! We invite you to learn more….

History of Gargoyles

The first Gargoyle that pops into your head is probably the famous Gargoyle of Notre Dame or the old cartoon, right? Well, believe it or not, Gargoyles can be found further back than 1993 and the 12th century.

The first recorded use of gargoyles in the sense of water spouts on buildings is believed to be in ancient Rome. Romans used gargoyles to prevent rainwater runoff from eroding the sides of their buildings. The excess water was drained off the roofs of buildings through gutters and water spouts. These water spouts were often carved into stone figures, like animals, mythical creatures, and human faces.

While none of them “looked” like the Gargoyles we know and love/fear today, technically speaking, they were the first of their kind!

Gargoyles in the Gothic Era

So you’ve seen these Gargoyles on castles, right?  Well believe it or not they are found on churches too. The earliest surviving examples of Gothic gargoyles date back to the 12th century, with the most famous examples found the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

“Well, that’s just one place, maybe it’s a mistake, I still think gargoyles are evil!” Have you seen St. Mary’s Church, Lübeck, Germany? How about Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France? Or Cologne Cathedral, Cologne, Germany?

In the Gothic architecture era, it wasn’t uncommon to find gargoyles scattered across Europe’s castles and churches. Would you want a building made of stone that took 50 years to complete, destroyed by water or evil spirits? No!

So, Are Gargoyles Evil?

We’ve covered that Gargoyles were made to move water off churches but are gargoyles evil? Naturally with that many gargoyles in there’s got to be some kind of story behind them right? Well, that’s where mythology and Folklore come in!

In medieval times superstition played a huge part in everyday life. People believed that evil spirits could enter buildings through any opening, including water spouts. Because gargoyles looked the way they did it was believed to frighten away evil spirits and protect the building and whatever was inside from harm.

Since Gargoyles were mainly found in grand churches and castles they were seen as protectors and not evil. So the next time you find yourself asking Are Gargoyles Evil, look at a church! 

While gargoyles may have a fearsome appearance, they are not inherently evil and should not be viewed as such.

Gargoyle Pour Spout.

At this point, we hope you have an understanding of where and how Gargoyles came to be. We also hope that this has reminded you not to judge something based on its appearance alone!

This is exactly what our brand stands for, and why we have chosen to adorn the top of our whiskey bottle with a gargoyle pour spout. The gargoyle serves as a protector of our spirit, ensuring that it remains pure and delivers the perfect pour every time.

So, the next time you come across a gargoyle, remember its history, many meanings, and functions over the last 12 centuries. And the next time you enjoy a sip of Von Payne Black Whiskey, let the gargoyle pour spout remind you that there is more to a creature’s appearance than meets the eye!

Cheers!

Show off your Gargoyle Pride! We have some of the best Gargoyle merch you can find!