Word of the
Day for Tuesday 20th May
2014
Tarantism \ TAR-uhn-tiz-uhm \,
noun;
1. A mania characterised by an uncontrollable impulse to dance, especially
as prevalent in southern Italy from the 15th to the 17th century, popularly
attributed to the bite of the tarantula. Also, tarentism .
Quotes:
…I am afraid I shall have nothing more to say, than that the surprising cure
of the bite of the Tarantula, by music, has not the least truth in it; and that
it is only an invention of the people, who want to get a little money, by
dancing when they say the tarantism begins.
-- Dominico Cirillo, "A Letter to Dr. William Watson, F. R. S. Giving Some
Account of the Manna Tree,and of the Tarantula,” Philosophical
Transactions, Vol. 60 , 1770
The form of music and dance which is commonly perceived to be connected to the ritual of tarantism is the tarantella.
-- Jerri Daboo, Ritual, Rapture and Remorse, 2010
Origin:
Tarantism comes from Taranto , the name of a seaport city in Italy where
the spiders once thought tocause tarantism were frequently found. The
tarantula spider is also named for this town.
Thanks to: www.dictionary.com
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