EICETÆ, called also HEICETÆ and HICETÆ, were heretics of the seventh century, who made profession of the monastic life. From the passage in Exodus where Moses and the children of Israel are said to have sung a song in praise of the Lord, after they had safely passed the Red Sea, the Eicetæ concluded that, in order to praise God aright, the introduction of singing and dancing was necessary; and as Mary the prophetess, sister of Moses and Aaron, beat a drum on the same occasion, an example which was followed by all the other women to express their joy, the Eicetæ, in order the better to imitate them, enticed females to make profession of the monastic life, and assist in their mirth.