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Faieq writes...
A while ago I noticed a short ramble of yours entitled 'While I'm thinking of it...' It was rambled on Monday 4th March 2002. I won't repeat the whole thing here, however the beginning started off with you repeating an exchange between you and Aris Katsaris concerning the date Angela and the other eggs on Avalon would have hatched and underneath your response you wrote;
"With all this in mind...
I know I've established -- both here and in my own head (particularly with regards to G2198) that eggs hatch on the Spring Equinox.
But does anyone remember whether (and where) I've established what month the eggs are laid in?
I can't recall if this has come up yet.
Anyone know? And would this solve my problems at all?"
Recently I remember another question previously submitted on Friday October 13th by Aris Katsaris that may help you.
"Aris Katsaris writes...
A small tidbit that you revealed through the last contest was that the hatching of the eggs takes place in March 21st - the Spring Equinox, that is.
Now, I always felt it would be on an equinox or a solstice- those are the only dates that make sense really... Is the laying of the eggs also done on the Spring Equinox (ten years earlier ofcourse)?
How about the egg's conceiving? Have you decided how much time is spent between the eggs's conceiving and laying?
Greg responds...
That's interesting. Maybe.
As for conception, maybe I'll make it a six month term and put it on the fall equinox.
The truth is I chose March 21st because it's my son's birthday. But sometimes things in the Garg Universe just seem to come together. It's cool that way.
recorded on 10-20-00"
From your above response I assume that the eggs would be laid on the spring equinox, with the females being fertile on the fall equinox from the previous year.
I don't know whether this would clarify any problems over when the eggs hatched, but I hope it helps.
Greg responds...
I agree, it helps. Thanks.
I also don't know if it fixes my math problems, but I'm hopeful. And I like the idea of females being in heat at the fall equinox and laying their eggs in the spring (and the eggs hatching ten years later in the spring). For a race, that is so attuned to the bio-rhythms of their planet, it just feels right.
I don't think that literally all the eggs are conceived on the EXACT same night. Same with laying. Same with hatching to some extent too. There's probably something like a three night window for these things (say, two nights on either side of the equinox).
Jimmy writes...
What's up with Desdemona's (Colfire's) wings, how come no other gargoyles have wings like her's.
Greg responds...
There is wing variation across the Gargoyle bio-community. You just haven't seen many gargoyles (not many are still alive, frankly) to know that she is not completely unique in this wing shape.
Firebird writes...
Okay, I've looked but can't find the answer.
You said that gargoyles get energy from the sun, but they also eat (at least, Broadway does), so what kind of dietary requirements would they have? ie. would a gargoyle food pyramid of what they need to eat look like one for humans (lots of starches/carbohydrates on the bottom, fruit and veg. next etc), or should they eat proportionatly more of one thing than us and less of others?
Greg responds...
I don't know. What do you think?
folklore writes...
Dear Greg, great job you deserve more compliments than i can offer, but my question is why were the gargyles from the different regions of the earth so different except for the japanese and your staring characters? well thanks for your time if i get it. bye
Greg responds...
I think the Ishimura clan was just as different from the gargs as many of the Mayan clan. I'm not going to get caught up in migration patterns or genetic explanations that are just going to trip me up later. In any case, most of the differences you observed are fairly superficial anyway.
Joshua writes...
What *exactly* makes the gargoyles turn to stone and break away from stone? They've been stone indoors, in sunlight-deprived places, and even outside in overcast. So it can't be sunlight directly... and when travelling the world, since time zones are different, it became apparent that it's not a 12-hour schedule. So it seems to be the *knowledge* of sunlight being out there... is that true?
Greg responds...
As I've stated before (in the Archives), they have an internal biological clock that keeps them quite attuned to the seasons, etc. That can be screwed up obviously by changing time zones, but I think Avalon tended to compensate a bit.
And the strong visual cue of the sun rising is still gonna tend to turn them to stone.
demona writes...
I was wondering how exactly does a gargoyle breed??
Greg responds...
More or less like a human does, but they lay eggs which take ten years to hatch.
Siren writes...
1.)Did Magus, Tom, and the Princess know Angela was Goliath and Demona's daughter?
2.)Did they know Gabriel was Desdemona's and Othello's son?
3.) Did we ever meet Ophelia's parents? Besides the Britain Clan and Zafiro, she is one of the most interesting looking.
Greg responds...
1. Given her looks and coloring, it's not a great leap.
2. Ditto.
3. I haven't given it any thought.
Joshua writes...
I apologize if this has been asked (I couldn't find it skimming): Were the Gargoyles supposedly created through evolution or magic?
If via evolution, can you explain how their "ability" to turn to stone evolved?
If via magic, when, where, how, and by whom?
Greg responds...
Depends on what you believe created humans. All I will say is that it was the same process.
Demi writes...
How many of the clan's eggs were Goliath and Demona's??
Greg responds...
I assume you're referring to the 36 eggs that Princess Katharine preserved, in which case the answer is one: Angela.
Gargoyle females only lay one egg at a time, generally.
Mooncat writes...
Hello Greg,
The subject came up in the Adult comment room on the Gargoyles Fan Website, on wether Goliath and Elisa would ever be able to become mates. Physically.
So the main question is, can they become mates, in a physical sense, without physically harming Elisa?
How well endowed is Goliath (beneath the loin cloth)?
How well endowed are Brooklyn, Broadway, and Lex? Yes, inquiring minds want to know *^_^*. If not exact sizes, some general indication would be appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to consider the question.
Mooncat >^,,^<
and the peeps in
the Adult Gargoyles Comment Room
Greg responds...
I think of Goliath (and all the gargoyles) as being proportional. So that would make him fairly well-endowed by human standards. I have no doubt that Elisa and Goliath could become intimate, but I do have some doubts as to whether they could engage in intercourse without harming Elisa physically. But there are of course, many ways to become intimate short of intercourse.
Wolfram Bane (wolfram_bane@hotmail.com) writes...
Gargoyle Biology
Gargoyle females may only lay an egg every 20 years, and it takes the eggs 10 years to hatch. Eggs generally hath on the spring solstice. A few questions regarding theis process.
1/ Are the female gargoyles reproductive cycles tied specifically to Earth's cycles, or does it just happen to coincide with Earth's cycles upon a specific date for all females. ei - If a female who to be was fertile in 2008 was removed from Earth's standard timeline (ie time travel, journeying to Avalon, age acceleration or such), would her fertility be influenced by Earth's natural cycles/forces or her own biological systems? Would she become fertile when her body becomes physically as old as it would be in 2008, or is her fertility governed by Earth's natural forces in the year 2008, regardless of her biological age?
2/ Is a male's fertility governed by the same cycle. Ie - Griff was transported from 1940 to 1995. If he remained in 1940, his next mating cycle would have been in 1948, 8 years in his future. After being transported to 1995, would he enter his fertility period in 1998 alog with the rest of Earh's gargoyles, or would he still have to wait 8 years (ie 2003) and be out of synch with the rest of Earth's gargoyles?
Greg responds...
1. They are tied to the Earth cycle. Removing her from the Earth and its timeline would have less of an effect if, say, you removed her an hour before she became fertile. The longer she's been away from Earth, the more likely her cycle would shift.
But keep in mind that removing her from Earth only to put her back on Earth in a different Era would cause her (eventually) to match back up with the Earth cycle.
Having said ALL that, a garg who was biologically too young or too old to conceive is still going to be biologically too young or too old to conceive.
2. Given years to adjust, both males and females would make that adjustment. Given days or hours or perhaps even weeks, probably not.
Wolfram Bane (wolfram_bane@hotmail.com) writes...
Gargoyle Biology
I have read that gargates (gargoyles and gargoyle beasts) are descended from dinosaurs. I was curious as to what species of dinosaur that gargates descended from. If no specific species of dinosaur, it is several species, an as yet unknown species, or just undetermined as to which species it is.
Greg responds...
The notion that gargates descended from dinosaurs was a merely one of many possibilities.
Proofreading/Apologia...
I just received the following e-mail from my brother:
Subject: proofreading
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 13:56:49 -0700
From: "Weisman, Jon"
Just my two cents, but I do feel you're a little strident about the proofreading. I'm completely sympathetic to the annoyance/frustration, but your discussion of your own errors undermines your argument. You misspelled a word in the very sentence about proofreading being good training. Then you say there's no point in identifying errors that you make, because you're dyslexic and because you make an effort. Who's to say that your reader isn't dyslexic or doesn't make an effort, either? All "Dan" did in his first sentence was leave out the word "have."
Personally, I think it's fine to ask your readers to proofread better, but I simply think you could be nicer about it. Since your replies do contain errors, good intentions or not, it just doesn't make sense to me to cop an attitude.
- Jon
Jon is, of course, correct. And so I apologize for my rant. In particular, I apologize to "dan" for taking my frustrations out on him.
My only defense is that all the lousy proofreading -- and there really is a lot of it -- creates a kind of cumulative frustration. I really do ignore it most of the time. I make fun of it (I hope in a good-hearted way with a smart-ass response) occassionally, and I only rarely blow a gasket. But that's not much of an excuse.
So let's all try to proofread a bit more, including me -- hell, especially me -- and I'll try to keep my temper.
Again, dan, sorry.
dan writes...
hey greg i was wondering if the gargoyles most of the problems humans have? like eyesight, deafness etc? Is there any gargoyles that actually wear glasses?
Greg responds...
dan, reread your first sentence and tell me if it makes sense. Proofreading is a courtesy and good-training for just about anytyhing in life.
Seriously, why should I bother composing an answer to a question that you couldn't bother to read over yourself, just to make it intelligible.
And there's no point pointing out my own errors, of which I'm sure there are many scattered here and there. I do make mistakes, but I make every effort to proofread. My dyslexia causes me to miss a few things here and there, but nothing like the above.
Rant over.
Now, to answer your question, degenerative problems would be rare, as Gargoyles heal every night. They also are not prone to many diseases that might cause these problems, for the same reason. But it's possible that a gargoyle could become deaf and/or blind in a catastrophic situation that could not be healed in one night. Take Hudson's eye, for example. And gargoyles do get older, making healing more difficult and slower.
taesaki writes...
Hello. Uh, well, this is a bit embarrassing, but I was reading the questions and I got a bit curious. I'm sorry if this is inappropriate. I hope it's not. Anyway, how DO the gargoyles make love, to each other and possibly to humans? I suppose you were trying to keep things clean, huh? *blushes* Well, I'm sorry! I really wanted to know! If you'd prefer not to post it to the whole world but you'd also like to take pity on a poor curious fan, email me at "taesaki@att.net". Thankies! =)
Greg responds...
Well, I'm not going to go into X-rated (or even R-rated) details on this site. And, as I mentioned recently, I make a policy of not answering people directly off this site.
The short answer is that Gargs don't do anything much different from humans, except that they have an extra appendage, and wings, which allow them to make love in flight.
After that, I'd say, "Use your imagination."
Lisa- Mary writes...
what exactly is a gargoyle?
Greg responds...
If after 66 episodes you don't have the answer to that, then I'm not sure what I can add.
But, sigh, I'll give it a shot.
A gargoyle is a living creature. A sentient animal (as humans are) that happens to turn to a stone-like substance during the day.
The Cat writes...
Hello Greg,
I am helping a few friends with their fan fiction and I thought I'd ask this. You know kind of do a research paper. Anyway, one of my friends wants to know if gargoyles evolved or were they just created by something or someone? I wouldn't know so I figured since you were one of the creators I'd ask you.
So,
1. Were the gargoyles created by a higher being than themselves?
Or
2. Did they evolve?
3. If they evolved, what did they evolve from?
Dinosaurs(that is actually my best guess)?
Dragons?
Komodo Dragons?
Well, thanks bye.
Greg responds...
I've answered this before. Research papers generally require research, so it might have been nice had you checked the archives. Even given its volume, the odds are that by now, 8-1-03, you'd have already gotten the answer to the question you posted back on 1-16-02.
But anyway, it all depends on what you believe. If you believe a higher power created life more-or-less as is, than that same higher power did the same for the Gargoyles. If you believe in evolution, so be that. Personally, I don't see evolution and creationism as mutually exclusive, so I believe in both, elegantly. But that's just me.
If you believe in Evolution, they evolved back in the era of dinosaurs, but I'm not going to say from what.
Vanity writes...
Questions regarding gargoyle sex and sexuality.
1) Do gargoyles reckognize their own sexiness, do they reckongnize that they may or maynot be sexier than another gargoyle?
2) Do gargoyles just instinctively know (or practice) sex or are they taught in some manner?
3) What is/are the function(s) of the female gargoyles' breasts? (Milk, motor oil, chiefly sexual)
4) Do tails play a role in sexual activity? If so how?
5) Do gargoyles practive pre mate-bonded sex, or generally stay virgin up to chosing a mate?
6) Oral sex?
7) Is rape a problem for gargoyles? Either by eachother or by humans whilst they are young.
8) Which would you consider more sexually active male gargoyles or female?
9) Goliath told Elisa that when she was human he hadn't realized how pretty she was. What physical traits in humans can potentially attract the eye of :
A- A male gargoyle to a human female?**
B- A female gargoyle to a human male?**
**no need for great specificity here, merely general qualities that may be attractive to a gargoyle
10) Do they suffer STD's?
note: I am not trying to be cute, I consider these serious questions, I however realise that question (4) is somewhat well...wrong, but I believe in its legitimacy.
Greg responds...
1. Huh? I think self-esteem/ego/etc. issues aren't much different for gargs than humans.
2. I'd lean more toward instinct, but I'm sure there is some discussion.
3. Milk. Garg females breastfeed the hatchlings.
4. Use your imagination.
5. Generally they mate for life.
6. Are you offering?
7. Without getting into rape specifically, I think the series has made an effort to show that no species corners the market on either good or evil.
8. Equal.
9. Likely the qualities they have in common, I suppose. Elisa's hair for example, I think, is very attractive to Goliath. Her lack of wings, tail and horns of any kind is probably not so attractive until (a) his eyes are opened during "The Mirror" and (b) he comes to terms with the strong attraction he has for her soul. I would think that for a gargoyle female, there wouldn't be that much in human males to find attractive. But that might just be my bias showing.
10. Not likely, as they heal every day, no illness really has the opportunity to take hold.
I get that you're serious. I tried to answer as seriously as I could and stay in the ASK GREG realm of PG. If you're attending the Gathering this year, Thom Adcox and I will be hosting a late night "Blue" Mug-A-Guest, i.e. an opportunity to ask us adult questions about the series. Over 18 only please.
Lex Cousin writes...
You can explain how is the reproduction of a gargoyle, you can specify times (hatch)?, it dont know if this contradicts the rules of the forum, but
seems me interesting. For example Angela's birthday. When it is when Demona put the egg or when breaks?
Greg responds...
I'm sorry, but I'm just not clear what you're asking, but I'll do my best.
I've talked about Gargoyle reproduction before; check out the "Gargoyles Biology" Questions answered archive for details. But basically, gargoyles lay a new generation of eggs every twenty years. Those eggs hatch ten years later.
Demona laid the egg containing Angela in the year 988.
However, because time passes differently on Avalon, Angela didn't hatch until 1078.
matt writes...
kinda a follow up question here:
if two gargoyles were twins hatched out of one egg (and YES i know how extremely rare this is) would they look identical or not? since they come out of one egg, biology suggests that they would be identical twins (and YES, i know you are not a biologist) but i seem to recall that somewhere i read that no gargoyles, no matter how closely related, are identical, they all look different, as Lex says in Awakening. so, identical or fraternal twins?
thanx again Greg for humouring us on these nearly pointless questions...
Greg responds...
I honestly don't know enough about biology to answer this absolutely. But if what you're saying above is true, than I guess the answer is identical. If THAT is true, than I guess Lex's statement (which you're misquoting and/or misparaphrasing, by the way), is a reflection of the rarity of twins. He hasn't seen any. Neither have I.
Artemis writes...
This isn't really a question, but rather a corrective comment.
Obviously Goliath wouldn't know, but I don't know about you, but Thailog is NOT Goliath's son. They are brothers. Until I went to a genetics seminar with my AP bio class, this would never have crossed my mind.
Anyway, to the point. The reason Thailog can't be Goliath's son is because of genetics. Thailog's genes came from Goliath, which in turn came from Goliaths parents. Now, therefore, technically Thailog has the same parents as Goliath (since all his chormosomes can be traced back through Goliath's parents).
There's more to it that, but I wanted to keep it it terms understandable. Another simpler way to make the argument is that since Thatilog has the same genes as Goliath, they're sort of like identical twins, born years apart (and of course identical twins are siblings of each other). It's the same with the labrynth clones as well, they are bothers of the gargs they were cloned from.
Delilah is a whole different story. I can't explain that one, but i guess she's a half sister to both Elisa and Demona, but I can't prove it genetically.
Sorry if I seemed to have a "you're wrong, I'm right" attitude, but I just wanted to let you know what the real world truth was. Now Gargoyles Universe truth, well, I can't tell you what's right and wrong, that's for you to decide.
Thanx for listening to my lecture :)
Greg responds...
Actually, I found this post very interesting and informative. It doesn't change the emotional reality of how Thailog and Goliath feel about each other. But it's good to know. And I appreciate -- greatly -- that you weren't trying to make me look foolish, just filling me in on an obvious gap in my knowledge.
It's over a year since you posted this, so I don't have any idea if you're still hanging around. But Thank You, Artemis. It is appreciated.
F7 Addict writes...
This one is purely out of personal curiousity.
Given the fact that Gargoyles are warm blooded, have mammatory glands (for those who fell asleep in Anatomy, look at Demona and Angela to figure out what the m glands are), and lay eggs, it's safe to assume that genetically they are closer to the infamous duck-billed platypus than humans. (another argument against the Goliath/Elisa issue)
Was this done on purpose or am I reading too much into it?
Greg responds...
I think "those who fell asleep in Anatomy" would have better luck looking up "mammary glands" than "mammatory glands."
I'm not sure what you're reading into it. What was done on purpose was the idea that Gargoyles are a separate species. Not specifically platypusian. Gargates, I think we've been calling them.
Tukins writes...
Hey Greg
I'm not gonna bother you long, I only got one question
I was just wondering, since gargoyles see upon the entire clan as their family, and they concider them all brothers and sisters, how do they prevent interbreeding? I mean, they don't know just how closely they are related to eich other, doesn't that lead to problems sometimes?
That question has been bothering me for a while now, hope you can answer it for me
Greg responds...
It's been bugging you, but you chose not to check the archives for the answer. Instead you posted a question that I didn't get to for a year and a half.
Couldn't have been bugging you too much.
Within a generation, you're not going to get anyone mating with their biological brothers or sisters, because they don't have any among their rookery siblings. First Cousins are a possibility, I suppose. I have posited in the past that smell creates a natural anti-disposition for a gargoyle choosing a mate that he or she is too closely related to.
Adam Carlson writes...
how many eggs can a gargoyle female lay at one time? during there life time?
And, if there are 36 eggs taken to Avalon, how many gargoyles lived at Castle Wyvern before the massacure.
Greg responds...
1. One. Two on EXTREMELY rare occasions, maybe. Maybe.
2. Three or four tops.
3. I've answered this before, and I don't remember what I said exactly. About forty. But nearly half the clan migrated to form a new clan sometime before the massacre. So there are more eggs than you'd expect from the small numbers that were massacred.
Dragon7 writes...
Dear Mr. Weisman I find your posts on gargoyle physiology and culture very fascinating. Having recently read some of your earlier answers to the newly identified Loch Ness Clan a question came to my mind as to how this clan raised and cared for its offspring. It is widely known that gargoyles in the other clans in the gargoyles universe lay eggs is this also true of the Lochness Clan and if so do they put their eggs into caves until hatching as the Wyvern Clan did in generations past?
Greg responds...
Yep.
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