Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Vannus

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. 

VANNUS (λίκνον). A winnowing-van (Columell. ii. 21. 5. Serv. ad Virg. Georg. i. 166.); a large and shallow wicker-basket, employed for winnowing corn in still weather, when there was no wind blowing, without which the operation could not be conducted with the pala lignea or the ventilabrum. It is exhibited by the annexed example (Vannus/1.1), from a marble bas-relief, and resembles the van still used in Italy for the same purpose, which is applied in the following manner. When the basket has been filled with grain from the threshing-floor, the winnower, who holds it by the two handles, with one end against his belly, throws up the contents into the air by means of a jerk of his arms, and catches them again as they descend in the van, some of the looser and lighter particles of husk and refuse falling off at every toss, which process is continued with rapidity until the whole is perfectly cleansed. Still weather is required, in order that the grains may return into the basket, and not be blown over it with the chaff.

2. Vannus mystica. The mystic van of Bacchus; a basket of similar description to the last, but which was carried upon the head or shoulder in the ceremonials of Bacchus, containing the sacrificial utensils and first-fruit offerings, as shown by the annexed figure (Vannus/2.1) from a bas-relief in terra-cotta (Soph. Fragm. 724. Virg. Georg. i. 166.); but in the poetical and dignified diction of Virgil, the expression is used to designate the agricultural winnowing-van last described, which indicates that both objects were of similar character and material.

3. The Greek term also signifies a cradle, made out of a winnowing-van, in which the ancients used to deposit their infants, as an omen of future wealth and prosperity. (Schol. Vet. ad Callim. Jov. 48.) Jupiter and Mercury are said to have been thus cradled (Hom. Merc. 150. 254. Callim. l. c.); and the annexed illustration (Vannus/3.1), from a bas-relief in terra-cotta, represents the infant Bacchus in a van of the same character, which, in the original composition is borne between a Faun and a Bacchante.

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  Vannus/1.1
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  Vannus/2.1
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  Vannus/3.1