Gargoyle

Wednesday
Our gorgeous weather continues, and my afternoon walk took me down to the River Seine in Vulaines, then along the river to Hericy, and back along the upper road. This gargoyle is on the tower of L'église Sainte-Geneviève in Héricy, dating from the 13th century, with restoration carried out in the 15 the and 16 th centuries. Although we tend to use gargoyle to refer to any piece of architectural sculpture that depicts animals or monsters, strictly speaking gargoyles are decorative waterspouts, that preserve stonework, by diverting water away from the building. The word gargoyle derives from the French "gargouille", or throat, from which the verb to gargle also originates. Although the sculptural waterspout originated in Antiquity, it grew in popularity on Romanesque structures, and proliferated during the Gothic period. Grotesques, while similar in appearance, serve a variety of other functional and decorative purposes, such as corbels or capitals for instance. The term "grotesque" can refer to any fanciful human or animal form, especially when it indulges in caricature or absurdity. This particular sculpture is one of four, found on the corners of the tower, at the foot of the roof, so I think I can safely call them gargoyles!