A Spin: A Global History Of Spinning Tops
Top shelf: It is unknown why the potaka on the far left is encased in woven string. The two potaka with handles are examples of potaka kukume (humming tops).
Bottom shelf: Four examples of stone carved potaka.
In A Spin: A Global History of Spinning Tops
Spinning tops are among the oldest objects of play in the world. They have been found by archeologists all over the globe and on every continent except Antarctica. Tops have been invented and reinvented by different cultures and can be made of various materials, in different shapes and forms. The oldest known form of top date back to 3500 B.C. and were made of clay. These were discovered in what is now present day Iraq.
The Potaka
The Maori form of spinning top is the potaka. Potaka were in use in pre-European times as mentioned in the journal of …show more content…
Solander bought a boy's top, which resembled those our boys play with in England, and which they made signs was to be whipped in the same manner."
Games and pastimes of Maori were similar to those of their colonial counterparts. While these objects of amusement date from pre-European times, the potaka and others (such as whai, or string games) have survived. There are two types of potaka. Potaka ta are standard spinning tops, without a handle. Potaka kukume (also known as humming tops) are distinguished by the handle rising from the body of the object and the distinct humming sound that they produce when spun.
Despite differences in structure, both were whipped/spun in a similar fashion to their English equivalents. Players would wind a whip made of harakeke (flax) around the top, making it spin by quickly pulling away the whip. The whipping motion would be continued to ensure further spin. The challenge was to see which participant in the game could keep their top spinning the longest. Other ways to play involved knocking other players potaka over or whipping potaka over mounds of earth acting as hurdles during a
Bottom shelf: Four examples of stone carved potaka.
In A Spin: A Global History of Spinning Tops
Spinning tops are among the oldest objects of play in the world. They have been found by archeologists all over the globe and on every continent except Antarctica. Tops have been invented and reinvented by different cultures and can be made of various materials, in different shapes and forms. The oldest known form of top date back to 3500 B.C. and were made of clay. These were discovered in what is now present day Iraq.
The Potaka
The Maori form of spinning top is the potaka. Potaka were in use in pre-European times as mentioned in the journal of …show more content…
Solander bought a boy's top, which resembled those our boys play with in England, and which they made signs was to be whipped in the same manner."
Games and pastimes of Maori were similar to those of their colonial counterparts. While these objects of amusement date from pre-European times, the potaka and others (such as whai, or string games) have survived. There are two types of potaka. Potaka ta are standard spinning tops, without a handle. Potaka kukume (also known as humming tops) are distinguished by the handle rising from the body of the object and the distinct humming sound that they produce when spun.
Despite differences in structure, both were whipped/spun in a similar fashion to their English equivalents. Players would wind a whip made of harakeke (flax) around the top, making it spin by quickly pulling away the whip. The whipping motion would be continued to ensure further spin. The challenge was to see which participant in the game could keep their top spinning the longest. Other ways to play involved knocking other players potaka over or whipping potaka over mounds of earth acting as hurdles during a