Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Mola

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

MOLA (μύλη). A mill; a general term, like our own, including various contrivances for grinding different kinds of objects, whether driven by human labour, cattle, or water; amongst which the following varieties are particularly specified: —

1. Mola manuaria, or trusatilis (χειρομύλη); a hand-mill for grinding wheat, or other farinaceous produce, such as beans, lupins, &c. (Aul. Gell. iii. 3. Cato, R. R. xi. 4. Ov. Med. fac. 72. Jabolen. Dig. 33. 7. 26.) Several of these mills, more or less perfect, have been discovered in the bakers' shops at Pompeii; all of which are constructed in the same manner, and consist of two stones cut into the peculiar shape exhibited by the annexed woodcut (Mola/1.1), representing the mill with both its stones fitted together and ready for use on the right hand, and a section of the outer stone on the left, to show the different forms of each. The base consists of a cylindrical stone, about five feet in diameter, and one in height, out of which rises a conical projection about two feet high, which forms the lower millstone (meta), and has an iron pivot fastened at its top. The outer stone (catillus) is made in the shape of an hour glass, so that one half of it would fit, like a cap, upon the conical surface of the lower stone, receiving the pivot just mentioned into a socket incavated for the purpose in the centre of the narrowest part, between the two hollow cones, which served the double purpose of keeping it fixed in its position, and of diminishing or equalizing the friction. The corn was then poured into the hollow cup at the top, which thus served as a hopper, and descended gradually through four holes pierced in its bottom on to the solid cone below; where it was ground into flour between the outer and inner surface of the cone and its cap, as the latter was turned round and round by the slaves who drove it, with the aid of a wooden bar inserted in each of its sides, for which the square socket is shown in the cut. The flour then fell out from the bottom all round into a channel cut round the base to receive it.

2. Mola asinaria, or machinaria. A mill of the same construction and use, but worked by cattle instead of men, as shown by the annexed example (Mola/2.1), from a marble in the Vatican. (Cato, R. R. xi. 4. Ov. Fast. vi. 318. Apul. Met. vii. p. 143.) It will be perceived that the animal is blindfolded, as stated by Apuleius (Met. ix. p. 184.).

3. Mola aquaria. A mill for grinding flour, driven by water instead of men or cattle. (Vitruv. x. 5. Pallad. R. R. 1. 42. Auson. Mosell. 362.) The millstones were similar to those represented in the two preceding woodcuts; but the outer one was turned round by means of a wheel (rota aquaria), furnished with float boards, and having a cog wheel (tympanum dentatum) affixed to the opposite extremity of its axis, the cogs of which fitted into those of another wheel placed vertically over it, so that as the water wheel revolved, it communicated a rotatory motion through the cogs to the outer stone (catillus) of the mill. See also HYDRALETES. Ausonius mentions likewise saw mills for cutting marble into slabs, driven by water (Mosell. 363.).

4. Mola buxea. A small wooden handmill, for grinding pepper and articles of similar description. Pet. Sat. 74. 5.

5. Mola versatilis. Probably a grindstone, like the annexed example (Mola/5.1), from an engraved gem, in which the stone (cos) is worked round by the foot in the same manner as now practised. (Plin. H. N. xxxvi. 29.) Livy also (xxviii. 45.) appears to indicate a machine of the same kind; but the interpretation is not altogether certain, for both passages might be referred to the common corn mill, No. 1.

6. Mola olearia. An olive mill, employed for bruising the olives, and grinding off the fleshy parts of the fruit from the stones without breaking them. (Columell. xii. 52. 6.) In the opinion of Columella, the mola was the best of all the contrivances employed for the purpose. He does not, however, explain the manner in which it was constructed, further than by saying that the bruising stone could be elevated at pleasure to suit the exact size of the olives, and thus avoid the danger of crushing the stones with the flesh, which deteriorates the oil; but the same could also be done in the trapetum, by placing a block (orbiculus) under the axle, between the cupa and miliarium. (Cato, R. R 22. 2.) Still as Columella pointedly distinguishes the mola from the trapetum, it may be inferred that the former was a machine of somewhat similar character to the common corn-mill (No. 1.), consisting of two stones, the upper one being moveable, and working round a stationary one below it. (Compare Geopon. x. 18. Pallad. xii. 17. 1.) A third machine used for the same purposes was the solea et canalis (Columell. l. c.), the nature of which is entirely unknown; and lastly a contrivance called TUDICULA, which see.

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  Mola/1.1
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  Mola/2.1
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  Mola/5.1