Gargoyles are considered to have been inspired by a number of
dissimilar sources, including mythology, religious belief, history, and legends.
The more common feeling is that the mythical beast called the Chimera inspired
them. The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the
body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. The hero Bellerophon was sent to
destroy the monster that terrorized his city. Along with him was his winged
horse, Pegasus, and collectively they got the better of the Chimera, hence liberating
the city. As a final result, stone statues were made resembling the Chimera
as a recollection of the hideous beast that Bellerophon destroyed and of his
fearlessness in doing so.
Additional opinions indicate that gargoyles were inspired by
spiritual perceptions and the Bible. The beasts were intended to constitute
sin. Misconduct, or even Lucifer himself. A few think that gargoyles were even
partly inspired from skeletal remains of prehistoric dinosaurs. Other people
say that historic beasts and even star constellations inspired them. Whatsoever
the case might be, the bottom line is that gargoyles have more depth to them
then meets the eye.
According to myths and legends, real gargoyle beasts were very
proud and mysterious animals. They were stone statues during the daytime, and
magically turned into flesh and blood creatures during the nighttime. The stone
slumber was a way for them to regenerate themselves and even mend injuries accrued
from the previous night. In honor of these noble beasts, humans started carving
stone statues based on them and thus became modern day gargoyles.
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