Skip to main content
Back to Show
Monstrum

How Gargoyles Became Monsters

Season 2 Episode 12

Before these stoney grotesques became monsters they were just water spouts. We still adorn our buildings with the carvings and sculptures of the frightening, funny, and exaggerated forms—but why? Learn all about the strange history of the gargoyle monster and how the power of imagination turned some odd looking architecture into a legendary creature.

Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By
Season
Taotie: The Mystery of Chinese Mythology’s Famous Glutton
11:03
This influential ancient monster from Chinese mythology predates the written word.
Werehyena: The Terrifying Shapeshifters of African Lore
7:40
This monster is an animal that disguises itself in human form.
Baba Yaga: The Ancient Origins of the Famous ‘Witch’
14:03
One of the most beloved (and feared) figures in Russian and East Slavic folklore,
Modern Zombies: The Rebirth of the Undead
16:58
In the final episode of our three-part series, we bring us to the 21st-century zombie.
Kasagonagá: The Cute, Kind Monster We All Need Right Now
6:23
A sky deity falling from the sky sounds bad, right? Not if it’s the Kasogonagá!
Why George Romero Changed Zombies Forever
19:43
In this second episode of our special series, we move from the zombi to the Romero zombie.
Pontianak: The Vampiric Ghost of Southeast Asia
9:24
The pontianak, or kuntilanak, has long been a staple of Malay horror.
The Origins of the Zombie, from Haiti to the U.S.
16:50
The first episode of our three-part special series on the complex history of the zombie.
Nuckelavee: Scotland’s Skinless Evil Monstrosity
7:55
This horse-like horror emerges from the sea bringing death and disease.
The Original Urban Legend: Spring-Heeled Jack
10:50
Spring-heeled Jack became both a terrifying boogeyman and an avenging hero.
Unlocking the Mystery of Loch Ness
17:13
Find out what theories have been disproven—and what questions are still unanswered.
The Fatal Song of the Sirens
10:10
We picture sirens as similar to mermaids, but the original first sirens weren’t fish-like.
Active loading indicator