Legendary Places: Wishing Wells
By zteve t evans
In European folklore a wishing well is a term that is used for a well that is believed to have the power to grant any wishes. These wishes may be spoken or expressed in another way such as mentally, or in writing, or a by using a symbol or votive offering of some kind. This work briefly discusses the evolution of wishing wells from the past to modern times.
Wishing well by Fiona Shields - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
The residence of divinities
In ancient times Celtic and other cultures often believed natural springs and wells were sacred places. In those days a permanent supply of drinking water could be difficult to find so when a source of pure, clean drinking water was found it would be come a place that people visited for necessity. Water being an essential commodity for the subsistence of life the ancients believed divinities or spirits resided in such springs, or that they were the doorway to the underworld.
Water is also essential for animal life and natural springs attracted all sorts of animals that could be hunted. With nomadic hunter gatherer societies they may have been important stopping off points for groups of people who were following migrating animals. It may be that these special places brought groups of hunter gatherers together, maybe to socialize, swap stories or even breed.
Important places
These natural springs became important places and in later times people may have enclosed them in stone, wood or brick for ease of access. Sometimes they were marked by wood or stone statues of the deity. They were often dedicated to a god or goddess and in later times with the arrival of Christianity became dedicated to a Christian saint. Chalice Well in Glastonbury, Somerset is a natural spring that is strongly associated with Joseph of Arimathea and the legends of the Holy Grail.
Votive offerings and gifts
One of the most important parts of paying homage to a god, or goddess of a sacred spring was to make an offering of some kind. Sometimes the armour and weapons of vanquished enemies was thrown into bogs, lakes and springs as offerings of gratitude to the gods for bringing victories. Sometimes small models of animals were left at shrines in thanks from grateful farmers or herdsmen for healthy or bountiful flocks or herds, or for good harvests.
Healing powers of water
In many ancient cultures as in many modern cultures, there were special springs that contained natural healing properties such as the Roman spa of Bath, or Aquae Sulis in England or modern day Lourdes in France. In many cases it was not necessary to bathe in the waters. Instead a gift such as a coin could be offered or if someone wanted to be cured of an illness a small human figurine that showed the affected part of the body could be dropped into the water.
In ancient times Celtic and other cultures often believed natural springs and wells were sacred places. In those days a permanent supply of drinking water could be difficult to find so when a source of pure, clean drinking water was found it would be come a place that people visited for necessity. Water being an essential commodity for the subsistence of life the ancients believed divinities or spirits resided in such springs, or that they were the doorway to the underworld.
Water is also essential for animal life and natural springs attracted all sorts of animals that could be hunted. With nomadic hunter gatherer societies they may have been important stopping off points for groups of people who were following migrating animals. It may be that these special places brought groups of hunter gatherers together, maybe to socialize, swap stories or even breed.
Important places
These natural springs became important places and in later times people may have enclosed them in stone, wood or brick for ease of access. Sometimes they were marked by wood or stone statues of the deity. They were often dedicated to a god or goddess and in later times with the arrival of Christianity became dedicated to a Christian saint. Chalice Well in Glastonbury, Somerset is a natural spring that is strongly associated with Joseph of Arimathea and the legends of the Holy Grail.
Votive offerings and gifts
One of the most important parts of paying homage to a god, or goddess of a sacred spring was to make an offering of some kind. Sometimes the armour and weapons of vanquished enemies was thrown into bogs, lakes and springs as offerings of gratitude to the gods for bringing victories. Sometimes small models of animals were left at shrines in thanks from grateful farmers or herdsmen for healthy or bountiful flocks or herds, or for good harvests.
Healing powers of water
In many ancient cultures as in many modern cultures, there were special springs that contained natural healing properties such as the Roman spa of Bath, or Aquae Sulis in England or modern day Lourdes in France. In many cases it was not necessary to bathe in the waters. Instead a gift such as a coin could be offered or if someone wanted to be cured of an illness a small human figurine that showed the affected part of the body could be dropped into the water.
Inscribed bas-relief of Coventina - Public Domain
Coventina’s Well
Situated in the northeast of in England in the county of Northumberland is a very ancient example of a well dedicated to the Celtic goddess Coventina. It is known to have been active during the Roman occupation of Britain because around 16,000 coins have been found by archaeologist dated from the 1st to the 5th century Roman Empire. Although these coins were mostly made of bronze and of low denomination it may suggest that the value of the coin did not equate to the divine value that may be obtained from making such an offering to the goddess. These coins were donated over hundreds of years so people believed there was some kind beneficial return for a substantial period of time.
Belief in a higher power
These ancient traditions continue in a form today though the original meaning may be forgotten. The belief or hope that a higher power may intervene on our behalf in exchange for a small gift or money may bring hope and comfort to those requesting the assistance. Perhaps the creation of a “wish” is a form of prayer that requests divine intervention to help with problems, or request favors, for some event in the future. In doing so it is taking part in an ancient pagan ritual, though few people will probably realize this.
Today throwing a penny in a wishing well and making a wish may be seen as a bit of fun but maybe there is something deeper lying beneath the surface of such an action. It may show a faith, or at the least a hope, that prayers will be answered by divine intervention and that human and earthly concerns are being acknowledged by higher powers. It may also be intended to bring to the attention of the deity the “wisher” themselves who may be seeking a little divine attention for some reason. To a degree it also shows a belief that humans, through appealing to the divine, can influence the future for themselves and others.
Wishing wells today
Today wishing wells can be purchased from many different sources such as shops and garden centers and although they may not be placed over divine waters they are still objects that people like to have around, even if their original purpose and meaning may be lost in time.
© 07/03/2015 zteve t evans
Situated in the northeast of in England in the county of Northumberland is a very ancient example of a well dedicated to the Celtic goddess Coventina. It is known to have been active during the Roman occupation of Britain because around 16,000 coins have been found by archaeologist dated from the 1st to the 5th century Roman Empire. Although these coins were mostly made of bronze and of low denomination it may suggest that the value of the coin did not equate to the divine value that may be obtained from making such an offering to the goddess. These coins were donated over hundreds of years so people believed there was some kind beneficial return for a substantial period of time.
Belief in a higher power
These ancient traditions continue in a form today though the original meaning may be forgotten. The belief or hope that a higher power may intervene on our behalf in exchange for a small gift or money may bring hope and comfort to those requesting the assistance. Perhaps the creation of a “wish” is a form of prayer that requests divine intervention to help with problems, or request favors, for some event in the future. In doing so it is taking part in an ancient pagan ritual, though few people will probably realize this.
Today throwing a penny in a wishing well and making a wish may be seen as a bit of fun but maybe there is something deeper lying beneath the surface of such an action. It may show a faith, or at the least a hope, that prayers will be answered by divine intervention and that human and earthly concerns are being acknowledged by higher powers. It may also be intended to bring to the attention of the deity the “wisher” themselves who may be seeking a little divine attention for some reason. To a degree it also shows a belief that humans, through appealing to the divine, can influence the future for themselves and others.
Wishing wells today
Today wishing wells can be purchased from many different sources such as shops and garden centers and although they may not be placed over divine waters they are still objects that people like to have around, even if their original purpose and meaning may be lost in time.
© 07/03/2015 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright 7th February 2015 zteve t evans
Copyright 7th February 2015 zteve t evans
- Wishing Wells - Anthropology - University of California, Irvine
- Why We Throw Coins Into Fountains - Today I Found Out
- Wishing well - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- File:Wishing well.jpg From Wikimedia Commons - Wishing well - Author: Fiona Shields - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
- Coventina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
