A Persian well is a type of water well found in the Middle East, often used in conjunction with a Qanat. These wells feature an ox-driven pump where the ox walks in circles around a central drive shaft which turns a wheel that raises water via a chain of buckets from the qanat or a well. In some portions of some qanats the water flows fast enough that a subterranean waterwheel may harness enough power to raise the buckets of water to the surface level.

Sources

• Habib, Irfan. "Pursuing the History of Indian Technology." Social Scientist 20 (1992): 1-22. JSTOR. (see pages 8, 9 and 10)