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FourWinds F
FourWinds Oct 11, 2004 12:20:00
Replying to goffik

Many of the Irish wells have folklore attached to them that the associated saint walked along, banged the ground with his crozier and the water gushed forth.

This is one: http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/516

[this well is a few hundred metres away and appears to be a megalithic tomb: http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/519 ]

Several Irish tombs are built on springs, Newgrange being one! There is also Shalwy in Mayo and Church Mountain in Wicklow that 'spring' to mind. Portal tombs are always near to water, usually small streams, and is such a constant in their immediate landscape that it must have meant something to the builders. The life giving source of these waters must have been special (?).

L Littlestone
Littlestone Oct 14, 2004 21:36:51
Replying to FourWinds

Many Japanese Shinto shrines are built on or near springs (many of these shrines were subsequently absorbed by the Buddhist tradition in much the same way as pagan sites in Britain were absorbed by the Christian tradition). I lived for many years in the grounds of a Buddhist temple known as Sennu-ji (Spring Temple); within the temple grounds there are two very ancient springs one of which is frequented by pregnant women to ensure the safe delivery of a healthy child - my wife used to go there nearly every day while she was pregnant with our two children.

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