“ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE” DANTE’s THE INFERNO

DANTE ALIGHIERI Born in Florence in May, Born in Florence in May, Old, noble family BUT no longer wealthy. Old, noble family BUT no longer wealthy. As customary, Dante had an arranged marriage in his youth to Gemma Donati, the daughter of Manetto Donati. As customary, Dante had an arranged marriage in his youth to Gemma Donati, the daughter of Manetto Donati. He probably spent a year or a part of a year at the University of Bologna as part of his education. The trivium and the quadrivium were typical of Medieval curriculum. So…he studied grammar, diction, and rhetoric as the center of his education – along with everyone else at the time!

DANTE Unknown Artist (1530) An allegorical representation.

BEATRICE Dante’s great love, and the greatest single influence on his work. Dante’s great love, and the greatest single influence on his work. He met her at his father’s home when he was nine and she was eight. He met her at his father’s home when he was nine and she was eight. Most likely at a May Day festival. Most likely at a May Day festival. She was his angel, And from that day on his life and work were dedicated to her. He could not touch her. This was the age of Courtly love. Beatrice married about 1287, and died in 1290 at the age of 25.

BEATRICE Dante’s muse & inspiration; the female aspect behind the genius. Bernardino dei Conti SHE IS THE DIVINE LIGHT OF LOVE.

DANTE’S MEDIEVAL WORLD His world was threefold: His world was threefold: The world of politics, The world of politics, The world of theology, The world of theology, The world of learning. The world of learning. His Comedy utilizes all three; these areas are interdependent, so that it is impossible to say that one was more important than the other. His Comedy utilizes all three; these areas are interdependent, so that it is impossible to say that one was more important than the other. The middle ages was dominated by the struggle between the papacy and the empire. Both thought that they were of divine origin, and indispensable to the welfare of mankind.

THE PAPACY: The Vatican in Rome, Italy One of the few remaining city-states in the world.

CONSTANTINE vs. The Empire WHERE CHURCH AND STATE WERE FIRST TIED UP.

CAUSE OF THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN PAPACY AND EMPIRE The PAPAL claim to the TEMPORAL power (which was justified by the forged document “Donation of Constantine” in the 8 TH century) stated that the EMPEROR (before leaving for Byzantium) had given power and political dominion over Italy and the Western Empire to the BISHOP OF ROME POPE SYLVESTER I. The PAPAL claim to the TEMPORAL power (which was justified by the forged document “Donation of Constantine” in the 8 TH century) stated that the EMPEROR (before leaving for Byzantium) had given power and political dominion over Italy and the Western Empire to the BISHOP OF ROME POPE SYLVESTER I. THIS CLAIM CREATED GREAT STRIFE AND DISCORD IN THE EMPIRE. NOTHING NEW BETWEEN RELIGION AND POLITICS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VIRGIL In the middle ages, Virgil was regarded as a sage and necromancer. His poems were opened in a manner of divination called SORTES. The book was opened at random and a verse was selected as an answer to a question.

VIRGIL 70 B.C.E. 19 B.C.E He was the greatest of the Roman poets. He was the greatest of the Roman poets. His Aeneid provided the pattern for the structure of Dante’s Hell. His Aeneid provided the pattern for the structure of Dante’s Hell. However, Virgil was chosen as Dante’s guide through hell because Dante saw him as his master and inspiration for Dante’s poetic style. However, Virgil was chosen as Dante’s guide through hell because Dante saw him as his master and inspiration for Dante’s poetic style.

STRUCTURE OF THE COMEDY DANTE’S WORLD WAS ONE THAT BELIEVED IN MYSTICAL CORRESPONDENCES: NUMBERS, STARS, STONES, EVENTS OF HISTORY—CONTAINED A MYSTICAL SIGNIFICANCE. DANTE’S WORLD WAS ONE THAT BELIEVED IN MYSTICAL CORRESPONDENCES: NUMBERS, STARS, STONES, EVENTS OF HISTORY—CONTAINED A MYSTICAL SIGNIFICANCE. Dante’s Numerical Symbolism: 3 = SYMBOL OF THE HOLY TRINITY; 9 = THREE TIMES THREE. 33 = MULTIPLE OF 3; 7 = DAYS OF CREATION; 10 = CONSIDERED TO BE A PERFECT NUMBER IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD; 100 = THE MULTIPLE OF 10.

THE SPIRALING INFERNO DANTE’S HELL IS A HUGE FUNNEL SHAPED PIT. DANTE’S HELL IS A HUGE FUNNEL SHAPED PIT. THE CENTER IS LOCATED BENEATH JERUSALEM. THE CENTER IS LOCATED BENEATH JERUSALEM. ITS REGIONS ARE ARRANGED IN A SERIES OF DESCENDING CIRCULAR STAIRCASES THAT DIMINSH IN CIRCUMFERENCE AS VIRGIL AND DANTE TRAVEL DEEPER INTO HELL. ITS REGIONS ARE ARRANGED IN A SERIES OF DESCENDING CIRCULAR STAIRCASES THAT DIMINSH IN CIRCUMFERENCE AS VIRGIL AND DANTE TRAVEL DEEPER INTO HELL. THE NINE REGIONS ARE DESIGNATED FOR A PARTICULAR SIN. THE NINE REGIONS ARE DESIGNATED FOR A PARTICULAR SIN. THE HIGHER UP A SINNER, THE LIGHTER THE SIN, THE HIGHER UP A SINNER, THE LIGHTER THE SIN, THE DEEPER THE SINNER, THE DARKER AND MORE TERRIBLE THE SIN. THE DEEPER THE SINNER, THE DARKER AND MORE TERRIBLE THE SIN.

CONCEPT OF DIVINE RETRIBUTION PUNISHMENTS IN HELL ARE REGULATED BY THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION. PUNISHMENTS IN HELL ARE REGULATED BY THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION. THESE PUNISHMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SINS EITHER BY ANALOGY OR ANTITHESIS. THESE PUNISHMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SINS EITHER BY ANALOGY OR ANTITHESIS. AS ONE SINNED IN LIFE, SO HE OR SHE IS PUNISHED IN DEATH. AS ONE SINNED IN LIFE, SO HE OR SHE IS PUNISHED IN DEATH.

DANTE’S FUNNEL SHAPED HELL

1 st Ring: Limbo Luke Warm. Neither sinned nor believed in Christ. Luke Warm. Neither sinned nor believed in Christ. Heaven does not claim them, Hell does not want them. Heaven does not claim them, Hell does not want them.

2 nd Ring: Lustful Blown about in darkness. Blown about in darkness.

Inhabitants of Level 2: Francesca and Paolo – Punished for their adultery. Francesca and Paolo – Punished for their adultery. Cleopatra – Took her own life. Marc Anthony was her lover. Cleopatra – Took her own life. Marc Anthony was her lover. Helen – Cause of Trojan War Helen – Cause of Trojan War Lancelot and Guinevere – Thought to be the catalyst for the affair between Francesca and Paolo. Lancelot and Guinevere – Thought to be the catalyst for the affair between Francesca and Paolo.

3 rd Ring: Gluttonous Deprived of individuality. Each is alone, cold, and miserable. Deprived of individuality. Each is alone, cold, and miserable.

4 th Ring: Avaricious Greedy Greedy Must roll their wealth back and forth forever. Must roll their wealth back and forth forever.

5 th Ring: Wrathful and Sullen “Wrathful” “Wrathful” Muddy figures attack one another. Muddy figures attack one another. “Sullen” “Sullen” Sink beneath the surface in filthy slime. Sink beneath the surface in filthy slime.

Inhabitants of Level 5: Medusa – One of the three sisters known as gorgons. People who looked at her turned to stone. Medusa – One of the three sisters known as gorgons. People who looked at her turned to stone. Filippo Argenti – Filippo’s brother took possession of Dante’s confiscated property after the poet was exiled. Filippo Argenti – Filippo’s brother took possession of Dante’s confiscated property after the poet was exiled.

Marsh of Styx

6 th Ring: Heretics Confined in tombs. Confined in tombs.

Inhabitants of Level 6: Guido Cavalcanti – Dante’s best friend and poet. Guido Cavalcanti – Dante’s best friend and poet. Frederick II – The last line of reigning Holy Roman Emperors. He was the central figure in the conflicting claims of the empire and the papacy. Was excommunicated twice before his death. Frederick II – The last line of reigning Holy Roman Emperors. He was the central figure in the conflicting claims of the empire and the papacy. Was excommunicated twice before his death.

7 th Ring: Violent AGAINST OTHERS: AGAINST OTHERS: Immersed in a river of boiling blood. Immersed in a river of boiling blood.

7 th Ring: Violent AGAINST SELF AGAINST SELF Twisted plants that cannot move Twisted plants that cannot move

7 th Ring: Violent AGAINST GOD: Must lie facing upward toward heaven AGAINST GOD: Must lie facing upward toward heaven AGAINST NATURE: Must run forever AGAINST NATURE: Must run forever AGAINST ART: Forced to crouch over moneybags. AGAINST ART: Forced to crouch over moneybags.

Inhabitants of Level 7: Pier della Vigna – Was accused of betraying Frederick’s trust. Pier della Vigna – Was accused of betraying Frederick’s trust. Brunetto Latini- Educational mentor to Dante.

8 th Ring: Fraudulent SEDUCERS: SEDUCERS: Driven by horned demons Driven by horned demons

8 th Ring: Fraudulent FLATTERERS: FLATTERERS: Forced to wallow in a floor of excrement Forced to wallow in a floor of excrement

8 th Ring: Fraudulent SIMONISTS (Those who attempt to purchase the power of the holy spirit): SIMONISTS (Those who attempt to purchase the power of the holy spirit): Buried head down and burned on the soles of their feet. Buried head down and burned on the soles of their feet.

8 th Ring: Fraudulent FORTUNE TELLERS/ SOOTHSAYERS FORTUNE TELLERS/ SOOTHSAYERS Bodies distorted so that the head is twisted around to only view his back. Bodies distorted so that the head is twisted around to only view his back.

8 th Ring: Fraudulent GRAFTERS GRAFTERS Dipped into boiling tar. Dipped into boiling tar. Demon holds down the sinners with a pitchfork. Demon holds down the sinners with a pitchfork.

8 th Ring: Fraudulent HYPOCRITES HYPOCRITES Must always walk at a steady pace. Must always walk at a steady pace.

8 th Ring: Fraudulent THEIVES THEIVES Snakes coil and bind these sinners Snakes coil and bind these sinners

8 th Ring: Fraudulent DECIEVERS DECIEVERS Wrapped in fire Wrapped in fire

8 th Ring: Fraudulent SCANDALS SCANDALS Hacked to pieces, put back together, and hacked up again. Hacked to pieces, put back together, and hacked up again.

8 th Ring: Fraudulent FALSIFIERS FALSIFIERS Made insane; plagued with all types of illnesses and diseases. Made insane; plagued with all types of illnesses and diseases.

Inhabitants of Level 8: Ulysses and Diomedes – Devising and executing the Trojoan horse. Ulysses and Diomedes – Devising and executing the Trojoan horse. Mohammed and Ali – Caused a great deal of conflict when Mohammed split and formed a new religious community.

9 th Ring: Treachery TO FAMILY, COUNTRY, AND FRIENDS TO FAMILY, COUNTRY, AND FRIENDS Frozen in a sheet of ice with only their face exposed to show the pain. Frozen in a sheet of ice with only their face exposed to show the pain.

Inhabitants of Level 9: Farinata degli Uberti – Political traitor. Farinata degli Uberti – Political traitor. Ugolino and Ruggieri – Guily of political treachery and treason. In the story, Ugolino is eating the back of Ruggieri’s head. Ugolino and Ruggieri – Guily of political treachery and treason. In the story, Ugolino is eating the back of Ruggieri’s head.

Center of 9 th Ring: Lucifer

Center of Circle 9: Brutus and Cassius – Punished for their assassination of Caesar. They are stuffed feet first into Lucifer’s mouth. Brutus and Cassius – Punished for their assassination of Caesar. They are stuffed feet first into Lucifer’s mouth. Judus – Betrayal of Jesus. He is placed head first inside Lucifer’s central mouth suffering the most. His back is skinned by the devil’s claws. Judus – Betrayal of Jesus. He is placed head first inside Lucifer’s central mouth suffering the most. His back is skinned by the devil’s claws.

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AT THE BOTTOM OF THE INFERNO IS DANTE’S SATAN. THE EPITOME OF EVIL, THE FALLEN ANGEL.

POINTS TO REMEMBER THE INFERNO IS PART OF A WORK CALLED THE DIVINE COMEDY. THE INFERNO IS PART OF A WORK CALLED THE DIVINE COMEDY. IN THE MIDDLE AGES COMEDY MEANT SOME HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT BEGAN IN TRAGEDY AND ENDED IN HAPPINESS. IN THE MIDDLE AGES COMEDY MEANT SOME HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT BEGAN IN TRAGEDY AND ENDED IN HAPPINESS. IT IS ALSO AN ALLEGORY. THE MORAL PURPOSE IS TO POINT OUT TO THOSE STILL LIVING THE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS AND TO PUT THEM ON THE PATH OF SALVATION.

Representations of Satan…