1. A companion to Dante’s Inferno Ms. Moss
The Seven Deadly Sins
A companion to Dante’s Inferno
Ms. Moss

2. A brief history…
Greek theologian Evagrius of Pontius drew up a list of eight “offenses and wicked human passions” in the 5th century BCE
Pope Gregory the Great (6th century CE) reduced the list to seven
By the Middle Ages, each sin was contradicted with a Heavenly Virtue

3. Avarice Also known as greed (Latin: avaritia) A sin of excess
Applied specifically to the acquisition of wealth (money) in particular
Includes: disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, & treason (esp. for personal gain)

4. Envy An insatiable desire (Latin: invidia)
Envy is equated with covetousness
The sin of envy causes people to resent that another person has something they lack AND wish the owner to be deprived of whatever it is…

5. Gluttony
Over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste (Latin: gluttire)
Originally associated with food and over-eating
Seen as a sin when there were many who were without food

6. Lust Also known as lechery (Latin: cupidita)
Excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature
Includes: fornication, adultery, rape, & other “perversions”

7. Sloth Also known as laziness (Latin: socordia)
Known as an “apathetic listlessness”
Failure to utilize one’s talents and gifts
Laziness & indifference

8. Vanity Also known as pride (Latin: superbia)
The ancient Greeks called it Hubris
Considered the most serious of the Seven Deadly Sins and the source from which the other six come
Excessive self love

9. Wrath Also known as Anger (Latin: ira)
Inordinate and uncontrolled feelings or hatred and anger
Seeking vengeance
Originally, the sin encompassed anger pointed both internally and externally

10. So what happens to the sinners?
The sin of avarice leads to being boiled in cauldrons of oil for eternity
Envy resulted in the sinner being placed in freezing water…for eternity
Those guilty of gluttony were forced to eat rats, toads, and snakes…for eternity
Lustful sinners were smothered in fire and brimstone…for eternity
Prideful sinners were broken on the wheel…for eternity

11. Let the punishment fit the crime…?
The slothful were thrown into pits of snakes…for eternity
And finally, the wrathful were dismembered alive…for eternity
Dante also believed that each specific sin resulted in a specific punishment in the Inferno (Hell)

12. The Heavenly Virtues Charity (often paired with love…) Faith Fortitude
Hope
Justice
Prudence
Temperance

13. “All is Vanity” by Charles Allan Gilbert

14. Toothpastefordinner.com

15. 7 Deadly Sins: You’re doing it wrong

16. Questions? References: http://deadlysins.com/sins/history.html