Steeple (architecture)
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- This article is about the architectural term. For other uses, see Steeple.
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure.
Steeples generally cap bell or clock towers. Towers were not a part of Christian churches until about AD 600, when they were adapted from military watchtowers. At first they were fairly modest and entirely separate structures from churches. Over time, they were incorporated into the church building and capped with ever-more elaborate roofs until the steeple resulted.
A common myth claims that the steeple is based in earlier Pagan architecture. It is said that the Pagan steeple was originally constructed to symbolize the male phallus. This completely incorrect idea is rooted in anti-Roman Catholic author Alexander Hislop's general attempt to dismiss Catholicism as paganism in disguise, as described in his 1858 book " The Two Babylons, or The Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife." While Hislop did not claim steeples are pagan in origin, his follower Ralph Woodrow did in his own 1966 book "Babylon Mystery Religion." Woodrow has since recanted his claims, which had no evidence to support them anyway.
Towers are a common element of religious architecture worldwide, and are generally viewed as attempts to reach skyward toward the gods. Freudians may also see some phallic subtexts in all such structures, but this is different from claiming direct evolution from phallic objects.
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