Armenian wooden spinning tops

The photograph shows many wooden spinning tops with sharp metal tips. Many of them are decorated with coloured patterns, and on several the word “Armenia” is written in English.

The spinning top is a very old toy with a history of many centuries that is still popular in Armenia. According to the source, it arose independently in different cultures, from the Roman Empire to ancient Armenia. The Armenian top is made of wood, has a sturdy body and a sharp metal tip at the bottom. It is set spinning by pulling a cord wound tightly around it, and children compete to see whose top will spin the longest. The top is regarded as part of the national cultural heritage, and both children and adults still play with it today.