A grotesque scene Oct 28, 2020

A grotesque scene

"Goofy" might be a better descriptor, but these seabird statues lining an outer wall of an Ecuadorian cathedral are called "grotesques"—the architectural term for a statue ornamenting the side of a building. But hang on…don"t we call those "gargoyles"? Not exactly. Gargoyles are simply grotesques that boast a specific, practical feature: spouts that convey water from rain gutters away from the building.

© Henri Leduc/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Oct 28, 2018Do spirits haunt the Gardens of Versailles?
Oct 28, 2019A night on the (ghost) town
Oct 28, 2021Necropolis of Dargavs
Oct 28, 2022Frankenstein Friday
Oct 28, 2023Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Oct 28, 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Oct 28, 2025The Gothic Gate in the Adršpach-Teplice Rocks, Czechia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 30, 2022Memorial Day
Feb 3, 2025Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
Dec 24, 2019Dashing through the snow
May 13, 2020Of moose and Maine
Jan 23, 2018Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil
Feb 25, 2021Trevi in bloom
Apr 12, 2021In orbit for Yuri s Night
Jun 19, 2024Juneteenth
May 13, 2021Hues of Hokkaido
Jan 16, 2018Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
Sep 17, 2025A young bull moose in Denali National Park, Alaska
Mar 9, 2020This grizzly has Napping Day down
May 28, 2018Honoring the fallen
Mar 16, 2021Why does this panda cub look so happy?
Nov 11, 2019On a Healing Field for Veterans Day
Apr 6, 2020Castle on a hill
Feb 14, 2023Valentines Day
Jan 31, 2024International Zebra Day
Sep 22, 2019Barcelona bids farewell to summer
Feb 3, 2021The mountaintop of toppled gods
Jul 31, 2023Rock House in Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
Oct 17, 2023Spreadsheet Day
Mar 23, 2024World Meteorological Day
Jun 17, 2023International Surfing Day
Nov 15, 2024Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
May 3, 2021It s Teacher Appreciation Week
Dec 18, 2021Full moon
Nov 18, 2022Keyholes to the kingdom
Oct 8, 2024World Octopus Day
Oct 19, 2020A cliff-hanging complex of temples