SPINTOP

Spintops are among the oldest toys ever discovered by archaeologists. A clay top unearthed in Iraq was dated to 35th century BC—nearly six thousand years ago. The wooden top below was carved circa 1300BC and later discovered in the tomb of King Tut!

In 8th century BC, the ancient poet Homer sung of tops in the Iliad. Fagles translates one passage as:

"Ajax caught up [a stone] and struck Hektor above the rim of his shield close to his neck; the blow made him spin round like a top and reel in all directions."