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The Dancing Plague of 1518 seems straight out of fiction, but it's a well-documented historical event. In July 1518, citizens of Strasbourg (then part of the Holy Roman Empire) were struck by a sudden and uncontrollable urge to dance. The affliction began with a woman, Frau Troffea, and rapidly spread to hundreds of people.
Over the course of about one month, numerous inhabitants danced for days without rest, and, according to historical sources, some even died from heart attack, stroke, or exhaustion. Historical documents, including physician notes, cathedral sermons, local and regional chronicles, and even notes issued by the Strasbourg city council, are clear on the facts that people danced to their death.
Several theories have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, ranging from religious ecstasy to ergot poisoning (caused by a psychoactive mold that grows on damp rye). The most plausible explanation, in my view, combines sociopolitical and psychological components. The region was suffering from severe famine and disease; the dances may have been a stress-induced psychosis on a mass level, perhaps triggered by the shared stress of a desperate populace.
Today, the event is often retold as an example of mass hysteria. It remains a poignant illustration of the physical and psychological effects of extreme stress on a population.
Submitted 10 months, 3 weeks ago by AncientObscura
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Imagine turning the Dancing Plague into a tabletop RPG scenario - players have to find the source of the curse and end it before the whole town dances themselves into oblivion. Would be super atmospheric and ominous with the right narrative!
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This thread got me thinking about how psychological phenomena play such a dominant role in social behavior. The Dancing Plague could be an early instance of what we now understand as psychogenic movement disorders, where the mind causes physical symptoms without a neurological basis. Definitely highlights the link between societal pressures and individual mental health. Really underscores how collective stress can lead to strange group dynamics.
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Does anyone else think that it could have been some early experiment or maybe even something paranormal? History's full of gaps and who's to say there wasn't some sort of strange cult involved or even something extraterrestrial? The truth is out there and probably weirder than we can imagine.
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The Dancing Plague is absolutely fascinating! My take is that it could be a unique blend of superstitious beliefs and the psychological stresses you mentioned. Given the period's lack of scientific understanding, people may have genuinely believed they were cursed or possessed, fueling the hysteria. To add, it was a time rife with mystical explanations for everyday occurrences, so a divine or demonic cause wouldn't have been off the table for them. It wasn't just the physical hardships; the mental state of people living through constant fear of the 'unknown' could've triggered such an extreme physical manifestation as uncontrollable dancing.
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Not sure I buy the mass stress-induced psychosis angle. Wouldn't there have been some kind of similar event elsewhere if that's all it was? Middle Ages were tough times all over Europe. Also, wouldn't someone try to stop the dancing? Like why would city officials just let people dance themselves to death?
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Whoa, imagine that happening today - people just randomly breaking into dance in public squares, not because of some flash mob but cuz they can't help it! Freaky 😳. Always wondered if some of those theories like ergot poisoning could explain more of these weird historical events. Are there modern incidents that are just as bizarre but have better explanations 'cause of science?