"Like other medieval gargoyles, those decorating Notre Dame were intended as drainage spouts, with internal passages that carry rainwater from the roof and out through the gargoyles’ mouths. The word gargoyle actually comes from the French gargouille, which originally meant “throat” or “gullet”, and Latin words like gurgulio, from the root gar, “to swallow”, representing the gurgling sound of water."

"Of course the monstrous appearance of the gargoyles is no happy coincidence, and many believe they were designed to frighten away evil spirits. Da Vinci Code fanatics and conspiracy theorists will doubtless make some secret symbolic connection between these gargoyles and the minds of medieval masons, and of course such hybrid chimeras have made appearances in popular culture everywhere from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Ghostbusters. Do they threaten damnation or worse to sinners? Judgment Day awaits in Paris."

cool clip

oh, the beautiful hunchback of Notre Dam .... -)