@destrrooy: Gargoyles are functional stone waterspouts designed to channel rainwater away from building walls. When temperatures drop below freezing, residual or flowing water inside the spout can solidify, often forming long icicles at the gargoyle's mouth This freeze-thaw cycle is one of the main causes of structural damage to historic gargoyles, as expanding ice widens cracks in the stone and accelerates erosion For this reason, many medieval cathedrals have replaced original gargoyles with replicas, preserving the originals indoors to prevent further deterioration