Gargoyle (monster)

The gargoyle is a fantasy and horror monster inspired by the appearance of bestial grotesque statues in architecture – particularly those sculpted to decorate the cathedral of Notre-Dame Paris during its 19th-century reconstruction, rather than actual medieval statuary. Its name is based on the gargoyle architectural element, whose name is often incorrectly conflated with that of monstrous grotesques as a whole. While they were believed in mythology to frighten away evil spirits, the idea of such statues physically coming to life is a more recent notion. Like golems, they are usually made of magically animated or transformed stone, but have animal or chimera traits and are often guardians of a place such as a cathedral or castle. They can also be depicted as vessels for demonic possession or as a living species resembling statues. Most fictional gargoyles throughout the 20th century have been evil creatures and horror villains, but the notion of gargoyles as heroic defenders gained popularity in the 1990s following the animated series Gargoyles, and it is now not uncommon to see them depicted as sympathetic characters who may work together with humans.