THE GARGOYLES FROM LA LONJA DE VALENCIA

THE

 DEVILED

 DRAINS

In the gargoyles appear different themes: 

monsters, animals, humanoids, which in some cases are wrapped with lust, creating terrifying sets. 

 

The ornamental carved figures on this Silk Exchange of Valencia show messages of curious content.  

The recently restoration work left all the details covered by the consequences of time more visible to the passersby.

 "Merchants Exchange," as it is also known, is a magnificent secular monument declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931 and World Heritage Monument on 7^th December 1996, which contains 28 artistic gargoyles and various ornaments in windows, corners, facades that decorate and enrich this splendid and emblematic work of the fifteenth century.

  These Gothic gargoyles are drains to remove the rainfall water accumulated on the roofs.

   They are the work of the "pedrapiquers" craft workshop, led by the maestro Pere Compte, especially those located in the upper part of the building, since the rest, situated on the Consolat del Mar, are from about fifty years later.

   They represent the iconographical statement of this property and make reference to this medieval world, inspired by superstitions, winding tales filled with rawness and sinful customs. Are they by any chance a satire on religion, deceit and lust, similar to the burlesque expression shown in the fallas, although these are made ​​in the Middle Ages, of stone and forever?

  

Some believe that it was meant to show the sin, expelling it outside the buildings (especially the religious ones), showing them in this way to the people, who cannot read, just as the Romanesque transmitted the religion through its expressive fresco paintings.

How much fun must these great and roguish stonemasons have had while carving!

   It is worth admiring them in detail.

   I invite you to see them!

LOCATION OF THE 28 GARGOYLES

Nº1 An angelic being puts his penis in a jar

Nº2  A hairy man catches a reptile with his left hand.

Nº3 An animal with necklace tries to devour a human.

Nº4 A crowned and armed man opens the jaws of a lion

Nº4 A crowned and armed man opens the jaws of a lion

The anus of the child is the drain of the gutter. Nª5 A human carries a child on his head and squeeze him to defecate. Nª5 A human carries a child on his head and squeeze him to defecate. Nº6 A king with mace and shield

Nº7 A monk holding a goat between his legs.

Nº8 A crowned eagle blocked by a scroll.

Nº9 A fierce animal carries two humans in its thighs.

Nº10 Hairy man carrying a jar in his hands.

Nº 11 A winged monster

Nº12 A woman touches her genitals

Nº13 A strange animal with ears, goatee, tail and wings

Nº14 A woman has a monkey on her lap.

Nº15 A humanoid hugs a reptile.

Nº16 A chained monkey playing a drum

Nº17 A winged ram with reptilian body and two vertical udders.

Nº18 A soldier has in his left hand a snail.

Nº19 A monk carrying a child on his shoulder

Nº20 A lion has a prey between its claws.

Nº21 A man prays inside the mouth of a great fish.

Nº22 A bat-like monster has captured a fainted hairy man.

Nº23 An angel sings and plays a musical stringed instrument.

Nº24 A monster with scales, wings and a human face (damaged).

Nº25 A monster wearing a lizard in his hands. Two faces appear between its thighs and a head between its legs with terrified appearance.

Nº25 A monster wearing a lizard in his hands. Two faces appear between its thighs and a head between its legs with terrified appearance.

Nº26 An eagle has a bat in its claws

Nº27 A man is bitten by a strange animal.

Nº28 Bizarre monster with the beak and wings of a rapacious and the ears and legs of a carnivore.

In this gargoyle Nr. 28 we can see the conduit to expel the accumulated water for rain on their roofs.

Photographs by the author.

Manolo Ambou Terradez