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Fountain of the Samaritan Woman: Overall view with children playing
Architecture Library, Hesburgh Libraries
Fribourg has numerous 16th-century fountains. These great basins with columns in the middle, surmounted by biblical or allegorical figures, originally served as a source of drinkable water. This one is in the original location. A sculpted gnome holds tanner's tools, a reference to the guild in the neighborhood. The top sculpture represents Christ and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, a circular well above which there is a semicircular arch richly decorated with representations of the original sin and the lamb of God.