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KW Keller writes...

Gargoyle questions:

1. About what point in time did the London clan start using names?
2. About what point in time did the Ishimura clan start using names?
3. Do all the clans still in existance use names now?

Greg responds...

1. Don't know yet.

2. Don't know yet, but they had them by the time Brooklyn LEFT.

3. No.

Response recorded on October 19, 2000

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SEM writes...

The 2198 contest, plus some posts I've read recently, leads me to try and ask the following question about names: since gargoyles were not initially named, and seem to have let humans name them or be involved in the naming process, will this be the case with future hatchlings?

Any more detail on this question and I fear it'll look like an idea, so I hope it is clear. Since it is a future-looking question, I also respect if you choose to pass on it.

Greg responds...

Gargoyles will be more involved in their names and naming from this point on. But each case is case specific, so it's hard to generalize.

Response recorded on October 19, 2000

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Siren writes...

Do gargoyles celebrate birthdays? Christmas? And I know they did in Eye of the Beholder, but before then, Halloween?

Greg responds...

Hatchdays are big and communal. Christmas isn't. Halloween is now fun for them.

Response recorded on October 05, 2000

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Siren writes...

Can gargoyles vote? If so, who do you think they'd choose?

Greg responds...

You mean for Gargoyle Leader?

Response recorded on October 05, 2000

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Skylar writes...

Hi Greg!

Again it´s September the 28th, and I´m glad to see that you really answered all the questions that had waited, so that you can read it at the right time now *g* :

CONGRATULATIONS! Happy Birthday :))

- Cause there´s now a short waiting time, I´ll ask the Questionblock I have still waiting from the ones I ever wanted to send: The one about names.

I have allways been interested in the naming of Gargoyles during the Show.
In Scottland in the Dark Ages the Gargoyles didn´t have any names at all except of Goliath, who was named by a human after an historical figur and Demona, who was later named Demona by another human (McBeth).
When the Gargoyles who had survived came into the 20th Century, they gave names to each other like Citys and things like this.
In the 20th Century all Gargoyles seem to have names: The "Eggs" from the bible (given by humans), the Guatemala-Gargoyles by their precious stones, the Japan-Gargoyles seem to have normal japan names and the English Gargoyles.. - well, later to them..

So here my questions:

1a) Is it a kind of tradition that Gargoyles don´t have (or had) names, so that some older Gargoyles could be annoyed to hear that a gargoyle wants to give himself a name and break the tradition?
1b) Or was giving names in the Gargoyle culture just not known or not usual, but they all have no problems at all with taking a name that a human gives to them?
2) In the 20th Century all (or most) Gargoyles seem to have names, so is this "tradition" (although it might be not a traditon in this sense) something that got lost during the centurys, or has it allways just existed in Scotland?
2b)Do really all gargoyles have names in the 20th Century or not all of them?
2c)Why?
2d)In with way do they get their names? By humans? By the clan? By a kind of rite? By themself? Just by coincidence? Or is there no strikt rule? (Or maybe regional differences??)
3) We are shown three english Gargoyles - Una (unicorn), Griff (griffon) and so on. So have all english Gargoyles a name that sounds similar to their looking? (I guess the variation possibilities of names that sound like "lion", "unicorn" or "griffon" are very rare), or is it an exeption and the other english gargoyles have other kind of names?
3a)If so, what kind of names do they have? Quite normal names like "Jim" or "Bob" or something like that? Or do they prefer very odd and unusal names you would rare find at a human? Or perhaps never find at a human? Or names in a completely different way?

- Maybe the questions may sound a bit strange.. - Of course there are no strikt rules in giving names (and of course not one for all over the world and time), but maybe you can give me a few hints of what´s going on.

Greg responds...

1a. It's a fairly dated and old-fashioned tradition. Goliath is surprised (briefly) that Angela, et al. have been named, but he's really a tenth century gargoyle. Few modern gargoyles maintain that tradition.

b. Names are addictive.

2. Yes.

2b. I don't know about ALL.

2c. Why what?

2d. There's no strict rule.

3. We'll just half to see. But at this point some of these names may be a tradition in and of themselves.

3a. I tried to avoid giving them "normal" names.

Response recorded on October 05, 2000

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J.K. writes...

Hi Greg!

Here's my questions: how do gargs behave during the female's season? You did suggest in the archives that the female gives off a scent, so does this scent affect a male, and if so, how? (needn't get too detailed, heh.)Is there aggression on the part of either gender? I somehow doubt clan males would fight, but maybe some generic shoulder shoving and bullying type behavior? Is there a ritual of sorts? Fanfic authors have some often alarming ideas of season behavior, and I wanted to know the real deal:)

Greg responds...

No shoving. Keep in mind, gargoyles mate for life. By the time a female is fertile, she's generally already chosen a mate. And the scents are VERY specific.

Response recorded on September 26, 2000

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Danielle writes...

How do the gargoyles take care of the clans children.

Greg responds...

Carefully?

What do you mean?

Response recorded on September 25, 2000

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Punchinello writes...

As long as I'm up and asking questions...

Do the Gargoyles have an architecture that is particular to their culture?

I realize that question may appear to be a bit odd. I'm also sure that no one else would possibly care, but I am preoccupied with architectural ideas.

I know that we never observed any of them manufacturing barrel vaults or drawing plans, but we do knowt hat their culture contained it's own artifacts. They wore clothing. Occasionally we would see a strange shoulder gaurd or some piece of jewlery. Who made them?

I am entertaining images gargoyles who were the blacksmiths of their clan, forging swords and mace. Might the wyvern clan have contained a master builder who constructed catapults? Maybe who aided in designing the castle, lending a gargoyles more sophisticated sensibility for defense to the design of it's walls?

Did the clan have it's own artists? Musicians? Mathematicians? astronomers?

I'd be perfectly satisfied with an answer to the architect part.

Punchinello

Greg responds...

Lex demonstrates that Gargoyles can have special talents. But I don't see architecture as a major function of anyone in the Wyvern Clan. However, that doesn't mean Hudson might not have made some common sense suggestions, when the castle was being designed.

Response recorded on September 25, 2000

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Lawrence writes...

Greg, I'm the one who asked if a Clan would treat a Homosexual Gargoyle good and with open arm's. Anyway thanks for answering my qusiton!
But just one more thing about it and the last one I promise, Sense by 2158 or what ever the new year my be you said that Gargoyles would be consider a Minority, but a Homosexual Garrolye would be a minoriy with in a minority group, That would be hard on that gargoyle seeing people see their spices like trash and some people looking down at them cause of there sexuailty.
The reason I ask this is cause I'm Gay myself.
Thanks

Greg responds...

I think it's very difficult. ("species" not "spices", right?)

I'm not Gay, so I don't know what it's like exactly, and I won't say the cliched, "Some of my best friends are gay." thing.

Rather, let me say that almost ALL of my closest friends (and a few relatives) are gay or lesbian. Don't know why. Just worked out that way.

Anytime someone is a minority within a minority it is incredibly difficult for that person. That much is obvious with clear-sighted observation. It's a damn shame, but it's true.

Response recorded on September 25, 2000

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Clarification...

Someone asked me whether or not gargoyles would accept a homosexual gargoyle into the clan with open arms.

My response:

"The world isn't perfect. I think generally they would be tolerant. (Tolerant, in my book, is unsatisfactory.) But generalities do not
define individual reactions to individual revelations. Open arms would exist in many cases. "

My brother read that and wrote:

"I think writing "Tolerant is unsatisfactory"could be interpreted as you saying that they should not be tolerant, that you are against
tolerance rather than tolerance being insufficient."

So, just to be clear, I was saying that I find tolerance insufficient. Certainly, tolerance is better than hostility or neutrality, but I'd prefer acceptance.


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Lawrence writes...

How would a Clan treat a Gay/Lesbain Garoyle? Hopefully with open arms

Greg responds...

The world isn't perfect. I think generally they would be tolerant. (Tolerant, in my book, is unsatisfactory.) But generalities do not define individual reactions to individual revelations. Open arms would exist in many cases.

Response recorded on September 21, 2000

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Gabriel writes...

Dear Greg,
When a gargoyle died in the dark ages, what sort of funeral ceremony was contucted, if any? I doubt they kept the dead statues, but I could be wrong. Anyways, I need to know for a fanfic that I am writing; I would not like to get it wrong.
Thanks.

Greg responds...

Gabriel,

Did you try looking under "Gargoyle Customs" in the ASK GREG Archive?

(I'm guessing no.)

If you check there, you'll find a couple posts on "The Wind Ceremony". If you still have questions after reading those posts, come on back and I'll try to answer them.

Response recorded on September 21, 2000

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Lexy writes...

And finally...

1) Are those females you listed laying their eggs in Man. and then leaving them there for 10 years? Or will they 'join' the clan for that amount of time?

2) Why did _any_ of the females (for that matter) decide to go THERE to lay their eggs? I suppose I can understand the Guatemalan..(sp?) Gargs doing so..and maybe Sora..but why would anyone need to leave Avalon?

Greg responds...

1. You misread it. I never said they were all laying eggs in Manhattan. I said they were all laying eggs in 2008.

2. See above.

Response recorded on September 16, 2000

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dj writes...

In the original wyvern clan didd you knoww who lex's mother would be

Greg responds...

Lex had a lot of mothers. Quit thinking like a human.

Response recorded on September 16, 2000

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Maria writes...

You had mentioned that gargoyles don't generally kiss. They use a caress which in some ways for them mimics the kiss. But, considering the fact that Elisa surprised him by kissing him, what would be his reaction later? Would he ask questions about it and she would explain that she kissed him because she loved him? And, would he become curious enough to try kissing her? Would he enjoy it?
I can almost envision a silly face showing that he liked it, kind of like in the scene in Tarzan where Jane kisses an unsuspecting Tarzan. But then, that might not even happen. But it might be cute and inoccent if it did.
Anyway, thanks before hand for replying, and my apologies for some of my earlier more stupid posts. Just curious about that stuff mostly, I guess.

Greg responds...

By the time Elisa kissed him, Goliath had witnessed plenty of kisses. He knows what it means. And after trying it, I'd guess he liked it. If the right person kisses him. Which she did.

Response recorded on August 23, 2000

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Todd Jensen writes...

I recently watched my tape of "Upgrade", and that prompted a fresh question on my part. In this episode, Goliath finally fills the SIC position, left vacant ever since Demona parted ways from the clan in "Awakening". What interested me was that Goliath took so long to finally think about appointing a second-in-command. "Upgrade" is 25 episodes after "Awakening Part Five", and in terms of the series' internal chronology, probably over a year later, but only now does Goliath finally get around to start looking for somebody to fill the second-in-command slot, after Hudson tells him that he needs a designated successor in case some enemy of the clan does kill or permanently incapacitate him.

So why did Goliath take so long to start looking for a new SIC? Was it anything to do with the fact that Demona had been the last one?

Greg responds...

Not really. Mostly, I don't think that anyone was qualified at first. Brooklyn emerged as a leader. He didn't start out as one.

I think Goliath was de facto counting on Hudson to be his second.

Response recorded on August 23, 2000

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Gencie Salter writes...

Hi Greg.
1. Any idea where gargoyle civilizations started? Like, human civilizations started in Mesopotamia, Indus River Valley.?
2. Were there always gargoyle clans all over the world or did they migrate from wherever they started?

Greg responds...

1. Clans and civilizations don't have that kind of parallelism.

2. There must have been some migration.

Response recorded on August 22, 2000

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LSZ writes...

Did humans ever worship gargoyles?

Greg responds...

Not much.

Response recorded on August 22, 2000

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LSZ writes...

Did gargoyles ever worship fae as gods?

Greg responds...

Not really.

Response recorded on August 22, 2000

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LSZ writes...

Were any of the Ishimuran Gargoyles converted to Buddhism or incorporate any parts of it into their religion(since Japanese Zen Buddhism seems particularly compatible..)?

Greg responds...

Maybe. Or maybe it was the other way around.

Response recorded on August 22, 2000

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LSZ writes...

Do all gargoyles have the same mono-pantheistic religion?

Greg responds...

ALL of them? Probably not.

Response recorded on August 22, 2000

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Demona Taina writes...

Here's a question that got lost in the crash. I posted it a LONG time ago, and I just realized that it got lost. o_O I think I posted it in May. [looks at the date] Yep. It's been a long time. :P

Okay, as I said in my previous post, my native language is Spanish, English is my second, and stuff like that. Well, first, I became a fan with the Spanish episodes first. I mean, sure, I loved the English episodes, but didn't have cable long enough to actually start taping them. [grumbles] At least the translations came along. Well, everything is different in Spanish. Goliath's voice is much less like Keith David's. I think it's done by Felipe Preciado, but I wouldn't bet on that. [laughs] Much less dramatic, let me tell you. It simply can't compare with Keith David's. His is SO dramatic, so powerful, and yet, so beautiful. [giggles]

I fell in LOVE with a cartoon character.. I mean, Goliath is SO perfect! Except for that temper, but I love him anyway! You probably found out about my love for him when you read my ramble on Goliath.. [giggles] And every word I said is true... ;)

Oops, I forgot about the question. o_O Anyway, here it goes before I forget and start talking about something else. :P

Okay, I taped the episodes in both Spanish and English, but I taped them in Spanish first. City of Stone 1 was the first I'm sure, because Demona started crying, and I totally got hooked with that scene.. it was so powerful.

Okay, so, I have the episode "Vows" in Spanish. In Spanish, it has Goliath and Demona in the Clock Tower, and they HUG. Awww... well, then my grandma got Cable again. The English episodes. USA Network. I was disappointed when I noticed that they cut out the best scenes, but at least the voices were new. I mean, they totally cut out the Keith David's narration!! I've never been able to actually see that narration in English.. [grumbles]

ANYWAY.. they aired the episodes Vows in English. Okay. so, everything seemed normal, except for the cuts, until they aired the ending. o_O It was different!! Instead of the couple being at the Clock Tower, they were in a castle! With a very bright light behind them! Well, I was beaming with joy because there was something new.

And then, Demona is left with her mouth open. I go O.O. Goliath SMILES, capes his wings around her, and brings her close. I'm like "DO IT! DO IT!" And they're about to kiss, but then they disappear into a star. [whimpers] WHY!? They were THIS close! WHY? WHY? WHY!? That was so cruel. [laughs] I wanted to see them kiss at least once. :P

Now let me put all that in a sentence. [laughs] Why are there two endings of the episode Vows? No other episode has two endings, to my knowledge anyway. [blinks, then pokes you] Are there anymore alternate endings?

You guys have done a GREAT job with the show. And you're a great guy, too. [grins] And you're cute. [snickers] Couldn't RESIST. [laughing]

That's all for now. :P

Greg responds...

Kissing is a human custom. Gargoyles stroke hair and or brow ridges.

There are two endings because one was a mistake that we couldn't get corrected in time for its first airing. That scene was supposed to be a flashback to them embracing at the castle. Instead it mistakenly has them embracing at the clock tower, which they've never done.

Response recorded on August 22, 2000

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Karen writes...

Do the gargoyles, as a race, have any sort of myths/legends dealing with their own kind? We know that they have no language of their own (at least I *think* we know that) and learned writing and reading from humans, but human traditions with no written language still have oral stories/traditions passed down from generation to generation, stories told around the campfire to children of heroes. Do the gargs have any stories like this? Any legendary heroes, ie King Arthur calibre, of their own?

Greg responds...

Yes.

Response recorded on August 18, 2000

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steven s (repost by Aris) writes...

Just watched "the edge" .In the scene when the gargs are fighting the steel clan, goliath says to brooklyn "No doubt for us to lead them back to our new sanctuary" meaning xanatos wants to find out where the Gargoyles live.

But at the end of the episode, when the gargs turn to stone they are outside on top of the clock tower. Don't u think that would be a easy place for xanatos to find the gargs? seeing as they would be visible from say a chopper?
I think it would be a lot safer if the gargs turned to stone indoors.
thanks in advance.Keep up the episode reviews, i enjoy reading your opinions on them.

Greg responds...

We felt the Gargs being on the ledge was a classic example of them hiding in plain sight. (Compare Poe's "The Purloined Letter".) I don't think Xanatos was checking every building in town. I don't think, frankly, it occured to him that they'd be quite that easy to find.

Still, largely the gargs were still operating out of a custom that wasn't designed to safeguard them even back in the tenth century. It might not have been wise, but it was their WAY.

Response recorded on August 01, 2000

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Demona (repost by Aris) writes...

How come in the show you never showed Goliath and Demona kissing? You showed Coldstone and Desdemona kissing, and other characters, but never Demona and Goliath. I mean, you never even showed it in any flashbacks. Thanks, Greg!!

Greg responds...

Kissing is a human trait. Goliath and Demona didn't kiss in flashbacks because it was a custom they did not share. The gargoyle equivalent is to stroke the hair and/or horns/ridges of one's mate.

Angela & Broadway kissed because each had "endured" a lot of human influence. Broadway through pop culture (movies, tv, etc.) and Angela because she had been raised by the human couple Katharine and Tom (who did kiss).

Goliath stroked Elisa's hair more than once. But he never kissed her. She kissed him.

I don't recall Coldstone and Desdemona kissing. If that really happened then the truth is it's a mistake. Or one could say that they were experimenting, copying some humans that they saw kissing in the castle.

Response recorded on August 01, 2000


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