In this article I attempt to synthesize all the the details only about the Strasbourg dancing plague of 1518. Since there are many dancing plagues throughout 700-1700 AD as well as many diverse theories on the origin of the phenomenon in general, this article fixates solely on the facts of one specific, most famous instance. […]
Strasbourg Dancing Plague of 1518: The Most Famous Dance of Death Read More »
Was the dancing plague real? The art depicting the dancing manias over the years 1000-1600 can tell us a lot about the physical circumstances in a way the written accounts cannot. They also can confirm some interpretations of the written accounts. Plus, art is nice to look at. Let’s see what the art of the
Was the dancing plague real? 15 Pieces of Artistic Evidence Read More »
Dancing mania theories attempt to explain the mysteries of why, for about 1000 years in Europe, there were intermittent dancing plagues that often had casualties. Could it be the power of suggestion or toxic indigestion? We’ll explore dancing mania theories both old and new as I attempt to compile all the hypotheses in one place.
What Caused Dancing Mania? Theories and a Forgotten Saint Read More »
Dancing mania was a peculiar “plague” of sorts, where people felt compelled to endless and energetically dance to no good means or purpose. Here lies an anthology of the dancing mania that occurred most notably in Europe from 7th to 16th centuries. In modern times, when this is classed as “mass psychogenic illness,” we also
The Real Timeline of Dancing Mania from Then to Now Read More »