In July 1518, the city of Strasbourg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire, was struck by a peculiar phenomenon: the dancing plague. It began when a woman named Frau Troffea started to dance fervently and uncontrollably in the street. With no musical accompaniment, she simply began to dance. This strange behaviour was soon mimicked by others, and within days, over 30 people were caught in the throes of this dancing mania. By August, the dancing plague had ensnared around 400 people.
The dancing was not a joyous affair. The victims moved spasmodically, with convulsions, drenched in sweat, their arms thrashing, and their eyes vacant. Blood pooled in their swollen feet, sometimes bleeding into their shoes. Many cried for help. If they did not suffer a heart attack or stroke, they would collapse from exhaustion, hunger and thirst. The outbreak reached a point where there were around 15 deaths per day.
The cause of this bizarre outbreak remains a mystery, with several theories proposed.
- Stress-Induced Mass Hysteria: This is the most popular theory, suggested by historian John Waller. The theory proposes that the stressful living conditions of the time, including disease, starvation and superstition, triggered a mass psychogenic illness. This could have manifested as a chorea, involving random and involuntary movements. The region had seen seven other cases of dancing plague during the medieval era, adding weight to this theory.
- Food Poisoning: Another theory suggests that ergot fungi, which grows on grains like rye, could be to blame. Ergotamine, a psychoactive product of this fungus, is structurally similar to LSD. However, this theory is questioned as it is unlikely that so many people would react in the same way to the psychotropic chemicals or be able to dance for days, and it also doesn’t explain why these outbreaks occurred in specific regions.
- Religious Explanations: Some believed it to be a punishment from Saint Vitus, who they believed could curse people with the dancing plague. Some joined in the dancing in fear that it was a punishment from God and in an attempt to be free of sin. It was thought that only those with divine authority could restore the sinners.
The local council initially tried to control the situation, refurbishing guild halls for the dancers, hiring musicians and strong people to help the dancers stay upright. However, this backfired and they then banned public dancing and music. Ultimately, the dancers were sent to a mountain shrine to pray for absolution. They wore red shoes sprinkled with holy water and painted with crosses and held small crosses in their hands, with incense and Latin incantations used as part of this ritual. After this ritual the Dancing Plague ended.
Controversy surrounds the number of deaths. Some claim 15 people died per day, but contemporary sources do not mention any fatalities. While the final death toll is unknown, if the claims of 15 deaths a day are correct, the total could have reached hundreds.
The dancing plague of 1518 remains a fascinating and unsettling event in history. It has inspired various works of pop culture, including a short film, a choral song, a fictional book and more. It serves as a reminder of the strange and often inexplicable phenomena that can affect human populations.
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