Meaning "Tarantula Spider" in English, the Tarantella dance originated from Italy. It was believed that doing the dance after being bitten by a spider would cure the one that was poisoned. It is considered unlucky to do the dance alone. Another version was said to have originated from the towns Taranto and Tarantum, where it was believed they danced in order to sweat the venom out of their body. Lycosa Tarantula, which is believed to have inspired the dance, belongs to the Wolf Spider family.