In several areas of Western culture, the Dance of the Seven Veils (usually described as danced by Salomé) is one of the elaborations on the historical and biblical tale of the execution of John the Baptist. Salomé, like Dismas, or the various names of the Three Magi, is a name given to a character in the Bible whose name is not given in the Bible itself. ... The Bible (Hebrew: תנ״ך tanakh, Greek: η Βίβλος hÄ“ biblos) (sometimes The Holy Bible, The Book, Word of God, The Word Scripture, Scripture), from Greek (τα) βίβλια, (ta) biblia, (the) books, is the name used by Jews and Christians for their (differing but overlapping) canons of sacred texts. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

According to ten verses of Matthew 14, John was imprisoned for criticizing the marriage between King Herod Antipas and his "brother's" ex-wife Herodias. Herod offered his (unnamed) daughter a reward of her choice for performing an (unnamed) dance on his birthday, and Herodias got her to ask for John the Baptist's head on a platter, which was granted. The Gospel of Matthew (literally: according to Matthew, Greek: Κατά Μαθθαίον or Κατά Ματθαίον ) is one of the four Gospel accounts of the New Testament. ... Herod Antipas (short for Antipatros) was an ancient leader (tetrarch, meaning ruler of a quarter) of Galilee and Perea. ... Herod Philip (4 BC–AD 34), or Philip the tetrarch, was son of Herod the Great and his fifth wife Cleopatra of Jerusalem and half-brother of Herod Antipas and Herod Archelaus. ... Herodias (c. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

(The phrases "bring someone [someone else's] head on a platter" or "have [someone's] head on a platter" remain popular metaphors in Western culture for anger and/or retribution.)

Historically, that Herod and Herodias's ex-husband are specifically known to have been half-brothers, and the execution is adequately explained by John's criticism and other political needs Herod plausibly perceived. A half-brother is a male sibling with one shared parent. ...

The historian Josephus gives the stepdaughter's name, Salomé and other details enriching the story in later Christian mythology include providing a name for the dance, and the purpose of the dance being to inflame Herod with incestuous desire so that he would treat John as she wished. Josephus (c. ... Salomé, like Dismas, or the various names of the Three Magi, is a name given to a character in the Bible whose name is not given in the Bible itself. ... Christian mythology is a body of stories that explains or symbolizes Christian beliefs. ... Incest is sexual activity between close family members. ...

In the Oscar Wilde play and Strauss opera Salome, the dance remains unnamed except in the acting notes, but Salome's sexual fascination with John seems to motivate the request -- though Herodias is still pleased. The most famous music for the "Dance of the Seven Veils" comes from near the climax of the opera. The visual content of that scene (about seven minutes in length with standard tempi) has varied greatly depending on the esthetic notions of the stage director, choreographer, and soprano, and on the choreographic skills and body shape of that singer. At one extreme, the 2004 production starring Karita Mattila at the Metropolitan Opera made her surname the accepted New York term for changing the color of pubic hair to blonde because of the visual focus of the scene. Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal OFlahertie Wills Wilde (October 16, 1854 – November 30, 1900) was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, short story writer and Freemason. ... Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... Salome is an opera in one act by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by the composer, based on Hedwig Lachmann’s German translation of the French play Salomé by Oscar Wilde. ... In musical terminology, tempo (Italian for time) is the speed or pace of a given piece. ... Look up Soprano in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Karita Mattila Karita Mattila (born September 5, 1960 in Somero, Finland), is a leading opera soprano. ... The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, seen from Lincoln Center Plaza A full house at the old Metropolitan Opera House, seen from the rear of the stage, at the Metropolitan Opera House for a concert by pianist Józef Hofmann, November 28, 1937. ... A family name, or surname, is that part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ... Nickname: The Big Apple, The Capital of the World Official website: City of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ... Kate from Lizzie McGuire, with green hair Hair coloring products generally fall into four categories: temporary, semipermanent, deposit only/demi, and permanent. ... Pubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region. ...

This dance has also inspired imitation in the world of burlesque and striptease, with Sally Rand adapting it to her distinctive style. Photo of the Burlesque Troupe, Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang Burlesque was originally a form of art that mocked by imitation, referring to everything from comic sketches to dance routines and usually lampooning the social attitudes of the upper classes. ... A striptease dancer performing. ... Sally Rand (January 2, 1904 – August 31, 1979) was born Harriet Helen Gould Beck in Hickory County, Missouri. ...

The phrase "doing the Dance of the Seven Veils" is a metaphor for an elaborate presentation of information, especially one whose stages proceed more from area to area than through increasing degrees of detail.

Other references in modern and popular culture

• In the 1941 Disney short "A Good Time for a Dime", Donald watches a risque Daisy perform the dance in a penny arcade nickelodeon peep show.
• American author Tom Robbins includes the dance, performed by a character named Salomé, in his 1990 novel Skinny Legs and All.
• Breakcore artist Hecate appropriated the theme of Salomé's dance on the album Seven Veils of Silence (2004).

Donald Duck Donald Duck is an animated cartoon and comic-book character from Walt Disney Productions. ... Daisy Duck Daisy Duck is one of Walt Disneys cartoon and comic book characters. ... A penny arcade can be any type of venue for coin-operated devices, usually for entertainment. ... Nickelodeon may refer to: Nickelodeon (TV channel) Nickelodeon movie theater Nickelodeon jukebox Nickelodeon (movie) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A peep show or peepshow is an exhibition of pictures or objects viewed through a small hole or magnifying glass. ... Thomas Eugene Robbins (born July 22, 1936 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina) is an American author. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and conform with our NPOV policy, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Hecate is the performing name of German Hardcore/Breakcore producer Rachael Kozak, currently living in Basel, Switzerland. ...

Trivia

The dance is parodied in a famous Goon Show scene (Dishonoured' 14th December 1954 - script on web) when Eccles in drag performs the 'Dance of the Seven Army Surplus Blankets', temporarily seducing the unfortunate Neddy Seagoon. The Goon Show was a hugely popular and extremely influential British radio comedy programme, which was originally produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1951 to 1960 on the BBC Home Service. ... Eccles is the name of several places: Eccles, Greater Manchester, England Eccles, Kent, England Eccles, Scottish Borders, Scotland Eccles, a commune in Nord department, France Eccles, Lincoln County, Nevada Eccles — a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Eccles can also mean: Eccles... Neddie Pugh Seagoon was a character in the British radio comedy, The Goon Show. ...