The Bullroarer Atlas

BATTAGLIA1925-001 - ethnographic attestation

Children of Cittanova / Novigrad

Croatia - Cittanova - modern Novigrad - Istria - Southeastern Europe

Play / practical

Cittanova children's la fionda, a triangular wooden bullroarer about 25 cm long; the entire page and caption are shown.
Cittanova children's la fionda, a triangular wooden bullroarer about 25 cm long; the entire page and caption are shown. Raffaello Battaglia, Sopravvivenze del rombo nelle Provincie Venete (1925), p. 205, fig. 4 Public domain Image source

la fionda Italian / local Istrian name

Source term: rombo

la fionda: Cittanova children's name for the triangular bullroarer

In Cittanova, children saved la fionda for winter and bad weather. They sent the triangular wooden blade roaring from its cord—and sometimes let go, launching it in a broad arc. The toy's name, 'the sling,' catches both its circular flight and its more hazardous finale.

un interessante rombo di forma triangolare

an interesting bullroarer of triangular shape

Battaglia 1925:204-205
Object
Triangular wooden blade about 25 cm long, with one hole centered in its base and one whirling cord; exact Figure 4 survives.
Function
Children's winter toy, especially played in bad weather; players sometimes released the cord so the blade flew away in a broad arc.
Map confidence
high - Modern Novigrad settlement anchor for source-specific Cittanova; no collection address or maker survives.
Source location
printed pp. 204-205; Figure 4 p. 205

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