Actually, the nebula is the Tarantula. Tarantella is a dance with an interesting history: (taken from Wikipedia)
The tarantella can be traced back to the
Middle Ages, and may have evolved from an even older dance. According to legend, an epidemic of tarantula poisonings spread through the town of
Taranto. The victims (
tarantata) were typically farm women or others whose daily life might reasonably bring them into contact with the kinds of spiders that run in the fields. These supposed victims of spider bites would dance while villagers played
mandolins or
tambourines. Various rhythms were used until one worked, vigorous dancing ensued, and eventually the
tarantata was cured. Many people have suggested that the whole business was a deceit to evade religious proscriptions against dancing. Others state that it was a metaphor regarding female sexual desires and that by dancing frenetically these subsided and avoided problems in an era and area of Europe where sexual freedom wasn't particularly encouraged.
I like the pics too.
Geoff
