Tarantati
Lauren Sophia Iannacchione Ricci (she/her)
FROM THE WORSHIP OF DIONYSUS TO THE HEALING FROM PATRIARCHY- TARANTATI THE ANCIENT SPIDER BITE OF PUGLIA
In “the boot” of Southern Italy a cultural phenomenon occurs around Summer Solstice. Women impacted by patriarchal oppression are bitten by a mystical spider, inducing a "hysteria" that can only be healed through dance and music.
This practice has lineage of ancient worship of Dionysus, thought to have gone underground in this form.
The taranati , or bitten one, experience altered state of consciousness, a spiritual hallucination inducing trance as they writhe with dream and music.
Musicians and community gather around. Playing rhythm that starts slow and melodic steadily increasing speed and volume. Musicians play and the ritual can last for days without end.
With tarantati at center, dancing frantically, moving with spider like motions, until she rids herself of the poison of the bite.
This practice has lineage of ancient worship of Dionysus, thought to have gone underground in this form.
The taranati , or bitten one, experience altered state of consciousness, a spiritual hallucination inducing trance as they writhe with dream and music.
Musicians and community gather around. Playing rhythm that starts slow and melodic steadily increasing speed and volume. Musicians play and the ritual can last for days without end.
With tarantati at center, dancing frantically, moving with spider like motions, until she rids herself of the poison of the bite.