Some people would call this a gargoyle but in actual fact gargoyles are use to convey water away from a building and this one doesn't so it is not a gargoyle but a chimera.
I found this one in an old building in Palace Street, one of my favourite places in Canterbury.
If you are interested in reading more about buildings in Canterbury here is a wonderful site full of lovely and extremely interesting research: Canterbury Buildings
If you are interested in reading more about buildings in Canterbury here is a wonderful site full of lovely and extremely interesting research: Canterbury Buildings
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8 comments:
Interesting distinction between the two types. This one would be filling the role of decorated corbel as well, I think. Happy Mother's Day!
I must confess I fell into the camp that would have plumped for gargoyle.
One more thing I've learnt in the world of blogging today.
Where do you find the time to maintain so many blogs?
Even Chuck has a new photo!
Rose, what a lovely shot. I knew gargoyle wasn't the word, but I didn't know the correct word for it. Thank you.
It's fun to come to your blog, now that I know what your voice sounds like!
Rose, I love to learn something new. Thanks for the distinction. Also for the link to buildings.
Ah I learned something today. I too would have thought this was a gargoyle.
From Wikipedia: 'Chimeras (or "chimaeras") in botany are usually single organisms composed of two genetically different types of tissue. They occur in plants, on the same general basis as with animal chimeras. However, unlike animal chimeras, both types of tissues may have originated from the same zygote, and the difference is often due to mutation during ordinary cell division.' As a gardener I think of chimera as a botanical term. Check out my chimera: http://togofcoralgables.com/AeAebananas.aspx
or: www.togofcoralgables.com
Tog
Chimera is obvisouly one of those words with many uses but the original meaning comes from the Middle English chimere, Chimera, from Old French, from Latin chimaera, from Greek khimaira, chimera, she-goat; see ghei- in Indo-European roots.
In Greek mythology it was a creature with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a dragon behind. She caused a lot of trouble in Caria and Lycia before she was killed by Bellerophon. This creaturee was described by Hesiod around 700BC.
Later it was used to describe mythical figures used for decorative purposes in architecture. And that is the meaning I am using for my chimera...
Interesting, isn't it?
Tres interessant, Rose. The real root of a word. I've always wanted an OED--the kind with 13 thick volumes that would take up two shelves in my office and would require a book stand to use. Now they don't make it anymore, but you can buy the online or disk version for several hundred dollars! (I still want it.)
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