Stone carvings on cathedrals and other buildings often take the form of fantastical faces and creatures. Though gargoyles and grotesques can look alike, they have different purposes: gargoyles are also waterspouts that drain rainwater, while grotesques are decorative.

Some of these figures are far from traditional. Washington National Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the United States and the sixth largest in the world, features a small carving of Darth Vader among its spires. The design came third in a contest for schoolchildren held during construction in the 1980s. It can be spotted near the top of the northwest tower, above a large skull; binoculars from the northwest parking lot offer a better view.

In Kyiv’s historic Lypky neighborhood, the so-called House with Chimeras is decorated with animal figures inspired by architect Vladislav Gorodetsky’s interest in hunting. Gorodetsky intended the building to be his home, but had to leave when he ran out of money. Since 2005, it has been used for diplomatic ceremonies.

A more contemporary take appears on a mixed-use building designed by Changiz Tehrani. Its facade features 22 WhatsApp emoji faces, including a smile, a wink and a heart-eyes expression. Tehrani took inspiration from Amsterdam’s House with the Heads, which depicts six Greek gods.

At Carlisle Cathedral, a carving on the south-facing exterior wall honors Police Constable George Russell, who died in the line of duty. His likeness wears a helmet and star badge. Russell is buried in Carlisle and is also commemorated by a plaque at Oxenholme Lake District railway station.

Florence’s Duomo has a stone bull’s head above the Porta della mandorla, which leads up to the dome. One explanation is that it honors the draft animals used to build the cathedral. A more colorful story says a stonemason carved it to face the shop of his lover’s husband, as a reminder that she loved the stonemason.

A deformed rabbit has stood at the back of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Poland for more than a century, though its origin is unknown. Some interpret it as a symbol of spring; others say it was meant to frighten grave robbers. Another story suggests it was intended to look like a normal rabbit, but its ears were put on backward.

Paisley Abbey in Scotland replaced 13 gargoyles during renovations in 1993. One replacement resembles the Xenomorph from the Alien franchise, although it has never been confirmed whether the stonemason intended the likeness.

In a Chicago suburb, Park Grove Manor stands out among architect E.E. Roberts’ homes for its playful, chubby-faced stone figures. Sculptures above the service entrances portray an architect and a bricklayer in a cartoonish style, perhaps reflecting Roberts’ playful take on the pretensions of modern architecture.

Sources: Atlas Obscura.