man-well-woman

[Guest guest]

Doing research in biblical litterature, I am hoping through this group to

find in the myths and legends of other and older cultures parallel stories

to those which I am currently investigating. Which means that I am asking

all of you to help me naming sources and giving hints.

 

My interest is in the theme of a man and a woman meeting at a water-well, or

source or pond or river. A pitcher or water-jar may be involved.

 

In the Bible four stories can be found, in which a man, a traveller, comes

upon a well and sits there. Then a girl or woman comes to fetch water. In

two instances (texts in Genesis 24 and John 4) the man asks the woman to

give him a drink. In two other instances (texts in Genesis 29 and Exodus 2)

the man helps the girl to draw water for her cattle. In all four the meeting

at the well is the beginning of a close relationship, a literal or symbolic

marriage. In biblical poetry and wisdom the well and the jar do occur as

symbols of woman as source of life from which a man may or must draw.

 

In European imagery the meeting of lovers at a well has become a rather

common phenomenon - but this might be due to the influence of the biblical

legends. My question therefore is, if the theme does occur in ancient

stories which are independent from the Bible. I am rather convinced that it

does, but I have no evidence thus far.

I am looking for texts, and for traces of the theme in visual arts.

 

To give one example from modern art: I met with the story theme in two

different Iranian films produced in the last decade. But then the theme

might through Islam go back to the very traditions underlying my biblical

texts. Or are there also Persian, Zoroastrian texts in which the theme is

present.

 

So wide a field. Please help me!

Kind greetings,

 

Piet van Veldhuizen

pi.veldhuizen