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May 3, 2024 · The nine circles of hell, as depicted in Dante's Inferno, represent a gradual descent into increasing levels of sin and punishment—from the first circle, Limbo, to the ninth circle, which is reserved for the worst sinners.
Virgil proceeds to guide Dante through the nine circles of Hell. The circles are concentric, representing a gradual increase in wickedness, and culminating at the centre of the earth, where Satan is held in bondage.
- First Circle
- Second Circle
- Third Circle
- Fourth Circle
- Fifth Circle
- Sixth Circle
- Seventh Circle
- Eighth Circle
- Ninth Circle
Dante’s First Circle of Hell is inhabited by virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized pagans, who are punished with spending eternity in an inferior form of Heaven. They reside in a castle with seven gates which symbolize the seven virtues. Here, Dante encounters many prominent people from classical antiquity such as Homer, Socrates, Aristotle, Cicer...
In the Second Circle of Hell, Dante and his companion Virgil encounter people who were overcome by lust. They are punished by being violently blown back and forth by strong winds, which prevents them from finding peaceand rest. These strong winds symbolize the restlessness of a person who is driven by the desire for lustful pleasures. Once again, D...
When reaching the Third Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil find souls of gluttons who are watched over by the three-headed monster, Cerberus. Sinners in this circle of Hell are punished by being forced to lie in a vile slushcreated by never-ending icy rain. The slush symbolizes personal degradation of those who overindulge in food, drink, and other e...
In the Fourth Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil see the souls of people who are punished for greed. They are divided into two groups – those who hoarded possessions and those who lavishly spent – they are seen jousting with one another. They use great weights as a weapon, pushing it with their chests, which symbolizes their selfish pursuit for wealt...
The Fifth Circle of Hell is where the wrathful and sullenare punished for their sins. Transported on a boat by Phlegyas, Dante and Virgil witness the wrathful fighting each other on the surface of the river Styx, while the sullen gurgle beneath the surface of the water. Once again,the punishment reflects the type of sin committed during their lifet...
When reaching the Sixth Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil encounter heretics condemned to spend eternity in flaming tombs. Here, Dante talks with a couple of Florentines – Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti – but he also sees other notable historical figures, including the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, Holy Roman Emperor Frede...
The Seventh Circle of Hell is divided into three rings. The Outer Ring houses murderers and others who were violent to other people or property. Here, Dante sees Alexander the Great (though his inclusion is debated), Dionysius I of Syracuse, Guy de Montfort, and many other notable historical and mythological figures such as the Centaurus, submerged...
The Eighth Circle of Hell is for the fraudulent. Dante and Virgil reach it on the back of Geryon, a flying monster with different natures, just like the fraudulent. This circle of Hell is divided into 10 Bolgias (stony ditches) with bridges between them. In Bolgia 1, Dante sees panderers and seducers. In Bolgia 2 he finds flatterers. After crossing...
The Ninth Circle of Hell is divided into 4 regions according to the seriousness of the sin. Though all souls are frozen in an icy lake. Those who committed more severe sin are deeper within the ice. Each of the 4 regions is named after an individual who personifies the sin. Thus region 1 is named Caina after Cain who killed his brother Abel, region...
- Limbo. Dante and Virgil arrive at the first circle of hell, Limbo, after crossing the river Acheron on a boat. The virtuous non-Christians who were never baptized and virtuous pagans are sent to spend eternity in Limbo, an inferior form of heaven.
- Lust. Dante and Virgil arrive at Lust, the second circle of hell. Here, they find people who were driven by Lust during their lives. According to Dante, Lust is regarded as a comparatively less severe sin since it involves the mutual indulgence of two parties rather than being solely self-centered.
- Gluttony. In the third circle of hell, Dante and Virgil find the souls of gluttons; People who indulged in excessive eating and drinking. Gluttony succeeds Lust as it is self-centered and therefore considered much more wicked.
- Greed. In the Fourth Circle of Hell, Dante finds the souls of people who are punished for the sin of greed. The souls are divided into two groups in the fourth circle of hell.
Oct 11, 2024 · While Dante outlines the nine circles of hell in his epic poem, here we have 10 depictions of the netherworld. They illustrate scenes of torture, sneering demons, and other endless horrors that await the person who strays from the path toward heaven.
Take a closer look at William Blake's illustrations to Dante's Divine Comedy through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Read a summary and analysis of sections from Dante's epic poem and listen to recordings of each section.
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May 13, 2013 · The Bible does refer to Hell and its fires, but more of the details in Dante are drawn from Greek and Roman myths, and the vast majority are the creation of medieval Western imagination.
