Most Gargoyles are Actually Grotesques

Although gargoyles are most often associated with gothic architecture, they have historically been seen all over Europe and even in Ancient Greece. Lion gargoyles from the 4th century BC can be found on the Acropolis in Athens. They are still going strong today, and you may even see a gargoyle of Darth Vader at the National Cathedral in Washington. Or, to be more precise, grotesque.

In the present era, we have a horrible habit of referring to every gruesome creature carved onto a cathedral's wall as a gargoyle. Back in the day, Disney produced a successful cartoon about them, but none of those characters—or the Darth Vader we referenced earlier—are genuinely gargoyles. They are both grotesques and separate entities.

A gargoyle must fulfill a specific purpose in order to be considered one. They have water spouts built into its construction that direct rainwater away from the structure. A grotesque, on the other hand, is not a waterspout and is mostly used for decoration or, if you're superstitious, for protection against evil spirits.