Tarantati

Tarantati refers to individuals believed to be afflicted by tarantism, a psychosomatic disorder historically prevalent in southern Italy, particularly in the Puglia region. The condition was traditionally attributed to the bite of a tarantula spider, although scientific evidence does not support this causal link. Symptoms were said to include intense restlessness, melancholy, physical pain, and an uncontrollable urge to dance.

The ritualistic cure for tarantism, known as the tarantella, involved elaborate musical performances and energetic dancing. Musicians would play specific melodies believed to alleviate the suffering of the afflicted. The tarantati would then engage in frenzied dancing for hours or even days, sometimes accompanied by brightly colored cloths and props, in a cathartic process aimed at expelling the "poison" or the spirit that caused their affliction. This performance was often a communal event, involving family and neighbors.

The phenomenon gained significant attention in anthropological and historical studies, with scholars like Ernesto De Martino exploring its cultural and social implications. De Martino viewed tarantism not merely as a medical condition but as a complex cultural response to social anxieties, economic hardship, and religious beliefs within the communities where it occurred. While the practice has largely faded with modernization and changing social conditions, its legacy persists in the traditional music and dance forms of southern Italy.