Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

X7681 MIORA. AIORTARIUM.
woodcut imnmediately underneath this exhibits the paying it after the time fixed for payment. (Dig.
central portion of a very ancient and exquisitely 19. tit. 1. s. 13. ~ 20.) The rule is the same as to
wrought necklace, which was found at S. Agatha, debts due to the Fiscus, if they are not paid when
near Naples, in the sepulchre of a Greek lady. It they are due. If a colonus was behind in payment
has 71 pendants. Above them is a band consisting of his rent for two years, the owner (locator) might
of several rows of the close chain-work, which we eject him (Dig. 19. tit. 2. s. 54. ~ 1): and a man
now call Venetian. [CATENA.] We also give lost the right to his emphytensis, if he delayed the
here the central portions, exhibiting the patterns of payment of what was due (canon) for three years.
three splendid gold necklaces, purchased from the These were cases of delay in which there was
Prince of Canino for the British Museum. These simply a non-fulfilment of the obligatio at the
were found in Etruscan tonmbs. The ornaments proper time; and the term Mora is sometimes apconsist of circles, lozenges, rosettes, ivy-leaves, and plied to such cases. But that which is properly
hippocampi. A heart depends from the centre of Mora is when there is delay on the part of him
one of the necklaces. who owes a duty, and culpa can be imputed to
The necklace was sometimles made to resemble a him. Some modern writers are of opinion that all
serpent coiled about the neck of the wearer, as was delay in a person discharging an obligatio is Miora,
the case with that given as a nuptial present by except there be some impediment which is created
Venus to Harmonia, which was ornamented in so by causes beyond the debtor's control. But there
elaborate a manner, that Nonnus devotes 50 lines are many reasons for the opinion that Mora in its
of his Dionysiaca (v. 125, &c.) to its descrip- proper sense always implied some culpa on the
tion. This same necklace afterwards appears in part of the debtor. Tihis is proved by the general
the mythology as the bribe by which Eriphyle was rule as to the necessity of interpellatio or demand
tempted to betray her husband. (Apollodor. iii. 4. of the creditor (si interpellatus opportune leco non
~ 2, iii. 6. ~~ 2 —6; Diod. iv. 65, v. 49; Serv. in solverit, quod apud judicem examinabitur); by
Aen. vi. 445.) the rules about excusationes a mllora, which only
The beauty and splendour, as well as the value have a meaning on the supposition that real mor,
of necklaces, were enhanced by the insertion of is not always to be imputed to a man, though
pearls and precious stones, which were strung to- there may be delay in the discharge of an obligether by means of linen thread, silk, or wvires and gatio. That this is the true meaning of Mora is
links of gold. For this purpose emeralds, or other also shownI by the terms used with reference to it
stones of a greenish hue (smszargdi), were often (per euln stetit, per eum factunl est quomillnus, &c.).
employed (virides genae, Juvay. vi. 363). Amber This view is confirned also by the rule that in
necklaces are mentioned in the Odyssey (xv. 459, every case of Morna the particular circumstances
xviii. 295). Some account of the various kinds of are to be considered, a rule which plainly implies
links is given in the article CATENA. The hooks that the bare fact of delay is not necessary to conor clasps for fastening the necklace behind the neck stitute Mona. In a passage of Papinian (Dig. 12.
were also various, and sometimes neatly and in- tit. 1. s. 5) the doctrine that bare delay does not
geniously contrived. Besides a band encircling the constitute legal Mora is clearly expressed.
neck, there was sometimnes a second or even a third When Mora could be legally imputed to a man,
row of ornaments, which hung lower down, passing he was liable to loss in many cases when he otherover the breast. (Hom. Hl1y4sn. ii. in Ven. 11; wise would not be liable: as if a man was bound
longa mnonilia, Ovid. Alet. x. 264; Bdttiger, Sabiina, to give a thing and it was lost or destroyed, he
vol. ii. p. 129.) was to bear the loss, if the fault was his, that is,
Very valuable necklaces were sometimes placed, if real culpose mora could be imputed to him. (Dig.
as dedicated offerings, upon the statues of Minerva, 12. tit. 1. s. 5.) In cases where a man did not
Venus, and other goddesses (Sueton. Galb. 18), pay money when he ought, he was liable to pay
and this was in accordance with the description of interest if legal Mora could be imputed to him.
their attire given by the poets. (Hom. lylzin. i. in In boinae fidei contractus interest (usurae) was
Je'n. 88.) Horses and other favourite animals due if there was legal mora. (Vangerow, Ptanwere also adorned with splendid necklaces (castea, dektenz, &c. iii. p. 188; Thibaut, Systemi, &tc. i.
Virg. Aens. vii. 278; genztmata sonailia, Ovid. MAet. ~ 96, &c.; Dig. 22. tit. 1.) [G. L.]
x. 113; Claudia, Epig. xxxvi. 9; A. Gell. v. 5). MORA. [ExERCITUS, p. 483.]
[Tl'onQuEs.] [J. Y.] MLORTA'RIUM, also called PILA and PIMONOPO'DIUM. [MENSA.] LUTI (Plin. H. N. xviii. 3; xxxiii. 26), (oXLsov:
MONOPTEROS. [TEaIPLUAs.] h'ys8, Sclol. icn lies. Op. et Dies, 421; fySts, apMONOXYLON. [NAVIS.] parently from the root of iccre, to strike), a mortar.
MONUMENTUM. [FuNus, p. 561, a.] Before the invention of mills [MoLA] corn was
MORA. The fact of an obligatio not being pounded asld rubbed in mortars (pistuthm), and
discharged at the time when it is due, is followed hence the place for making bread, or the bakeby important consequences, which either may de- house, was called pistrinuzo. (Serv. in Virg. Aee.
pend on the nature of the contract, or may depend i. 179.) Also long after the introduction of mills
on rutles of positive law. After such delay the this wals an indispensable article of domestic furnicreditor is emlpowered to use all legal means to ture. (Plaut. Aul. i. 2. 17; Cato, de Re Rtust. 74
obtain satisfaction for his demand: he may bring -76; Colum. de Re Rust. xii. 55.) Hesiod (1. c.),
his action against his debtor or against those who enumerating the wooden utensils necessary to a
Isave become securities for him, and, in tile case of fanrmer, directs him to cut a mortar three feet, and
lpledge, he may sell the thing and pay himself out a pestle (hrcspom,, Kordavov,, pistillu2n) three cubits
of the proceeds of the sale. For particular cases lollg. Both of these were evidently to be made
there are particular provisions: for instance, the from straight portions of the trunks or branches of
purchaser of a thing after receiving it, must pay trees, alld the thicker and shorter of them was to
interest on the purchasen money, if there is delay in be hollowed. Theey might then be used in the