Cast in Stone
March 3, 2009 3:42 AM Subscribe
This NSFW slideshow helps serve as an introduction into the sometimes ribauld art of the Gargoyle. Here's your site index for the silent orgy complete with an interactive UK map should you wish a more personal experience with stone exhibitionists or Sheela Na Gigs ( previously 1; 2; )
Wow, amazing stuff there. You can see why St Bernard "famously protested (around 1125) about the fabulous monsters and other frippery which diverted the attention of the (illiterate) people from their imminent damnation... 'there is seen everywhere such a marvellous diversity of forms that people read with greater pleasure what is carved in stone than what is written in books, and would rather gaze all day upon these singular creations than to meditate upon the Divine Word.'" Great post!
posted by languagehat at 6:18 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by languagehat at 6:18 AM on March 3, 2009
Stone hot!
posted by From Bklyn at 7:18 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by From Bklyn at 7:18 AM on March 3, 2009
I came in to pedantically point out the difference between a gargoyle (which has to have a water-diverting function) and a grotesque (which may be purely decorative), but I see your "introduction" link makes the distinction, so I have been spared the trouble. Though apparently I have not taken advantage of that fact, and made the distinction anyway.
posted by rusty at 7:27 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by rusty at 7:27 AM on March 3, 2009
Great post, thanks adamvasco! I too would rather gaze all day upon these singular creatures than meditate upon the divine word, or do timesheets.
posted by Mister_A at 7:33 AM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister_A at 7:33 AM on March 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Ha! Thanks, I've been to Rodel on Harris many times but never seen the rudeness!
posted by theCroft at 8:15 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by theCroft at 8:15 AM on March 3, 2009
Is this really not safe for work? Where do you people work?
posted by found missing at 8:54 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by found missing at 8:54 AM on March 3, 2009
and naturally, the sculpture of the temple at khajuraho for a different perspective. (about, say, 25% NSFW)
posted by barrett caulk at 9:15 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by barrett caulk at 9:15 AM on March 3, 2009
I'm disgusted. The internets really need to be policed!
posted by eperker at 9:36 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by eperker at 9:36 AM on March 3, 2009
Wow, a surprising number of them are sucking their own penises. People complain about our declining moral standards; these are right out in the open!
posted by Dr. Send at 10:58 AM on March 3, 2009
posted by Dr. Send at 10:58 AM on March 3, 2009
Goatsegoyles?
These are great. I wish there was more information about what kinds of buildings they were made for. Did some cheeky stonemasons sneak in some auto-fellatio for a church, or are these just for the villas of the decadent rich back in the day.
Oh, and I could have done without the last frame of the slideshow.
posted by dgaicun at 11:09 AM on March 3, 2009
These are great. I wish there was more information about what kinds of buildings they were made for. Did some cheeky stonemasons sneak in some auto-fellatio for a church, or are these just for the villas of the decadent rich back in the day.
Oh, and I could have done without the last frame of the slideshow.
posted by dgaicun at 11:09 AM on March 3, 2009
Is this really not safe for work? Where do you people work?
And are your co-workers in your lap?
(I had to scrutinize the images pretty closely to work out who was doing what to whom.)
posted by palliser at 4:59 PM on March 3, 2009
And are your co-workers in your lap?
(I had to scrutinize the images pretty closely to work out who was doing what to whom.)
posted by palliser at 4:59 PM on March 3, 2009
« Older Digital Archaeological Atlas of the Holy Land | I Write, They Answer (Usually) Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by zengargoyle at 6:15 AM on March 3, 2009