Winnowing

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– **Greek Culture**
– The winnowing-fan was used in rites for Dionysus and Eleusinian Mysteries.
– Dionysus Liknites was associated with the winnowing fan.
– In Greek mythology, Zeus was laid in a golden liknon.
– Teiresias in the Odyssey advises Odysseus to build a shrine with an oar.
– Mortal Greek babies were also placed in winnowing fans.

– **China**
– Ancient China improved winnowing with the rotary winnowing fan.
– Wang Zhen’s book Nong Shu featured the rotary winnowing fan.

– **Europe**
– European adoption of winnowing machines from China occurred in the 18th century.
– Dutch sailors brought rotary winnowing fans to Europe from Batavia.
– The Swedes and Jesuits also imported winnowing fans to Europe.

– **United States**
– Winnowing barns helped increase rice yields in South Carolina.

– **Mechanization of the Process**
– Andrew Rodger developed a winnowing machine called a Fanner in 1737.
– Some saw winnowing machines as impious against God.
– The Industrial Revolution led to mechanization of winnowing with fanning mills.

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