The fountain of the closter of the Abbey of Saint Denis, achieved at the end of the 12th century, remains unknown and its iconographical program continues to be completely enigmatic as it is unique for the medieval period. This article proposes to address this object in order to attempt to determine the reasons that led its sponsor to juxtapose the Vices, the Antique divinities and heroes, the elements, as well as animal fables around the perimeter of the basin, by determining the possible literary sources. It equally traces the historical trail of the fountain with the aid of ancient references, some of which unpublished. The results lead to the supposition of a commission by Hugues V de Foucault around 1193, who, by reference to texts essentially written in the 12th century in Anglo-Normand circles, elaborated a moralizing program around the Vices and the Virtues, intended for the monks of his abbey. Moreover, the publication of old photographic quality of the sculptural execution and makes up for the poor state of its current preservation.