CONNLA'S WELL, SIONNA, AND THE DESPERATE NEED FOR WISDOM

摘要

In the Irish Celtic legend of Cormac mac Airt (an ancient High King of Ireland), Connla's Well is found in the hall of the fey king Manannan mac Lir, the god of Oceans, lord of storm and weather, master of magic and portals between worlds and escort of the dead to the afterlife. Connla's Well resided in his court under the sea and within it resided the Salmon of Wisdom and surrounding it were nine sacred hazels. The well was a source of knowledge and wisdom and drinking from the waters into which the hazelnuts had fallen or eating the salmon that had eaten the nuts would grant wisdom, knowledge, and poetic inspiration. Only the god Nechtan and his cupbearers were allowed to approach the well, but they relied on the goddess Boann to circle the well three times anti-clockwise and clear the way. The waters would rush up and drive her all the way to the sea forming the River Boyne (named after her). Nechtan and the cupbearers would gather the water and convey it to the worthy. Sinann, a woman/goddess, tried to approach the well on her own and drink of it. The water rose up from the well and drowned her, transforming her in the River (goddess) Shannon. Over time, Connla's Well was considered the source of water for all the five major rivers of Ireland: the Shannon, the Boyne, the Nore, the Barrow, and the Slaney. They convey life to the people and in turn need knowledge and wisdom to be used for the benefit of all.