How Did Gargoyles Get Their Name, What Does it Mean in French, and Where Did They Come From?

Ancient Celtic warriors used to place the severed heads of their enemies around the top of their fortresses as a warning.

In time these inspired architects to add the twisted faces of gargoyles to prominent buildings.

Gargoyles had the practical purpose of collecting rainwater and dropping it clear of the walls through their throats.

In ancient French, the word gargouille means “throat.”