Dante’s Hell The Inferno The Descent begins on Good Friday.

Dante’s HellDante’s Hell

The The InfernoInfernoThe Descent begins on The Descent begins on

Good FridayGood Friday

The Gate of Hell; Canto IIIThe Gate of Hell; Canto III“ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER “ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER

HERE.”HERE.”

Cowards:Cowards: fence-sitters, wafflers, opportunists, fence-sitters, wafflers, opportunists,

and neutralsand neutrals

Revelation 3:16: Revelation 3:16: "But because "But because

thou art thou art lukewarm and lukewarm and

neither cold nor neither cold nor hot, I will begin hot, I will begin to vomit thee to vomit thee

out of my out of my mouth." mouth."

Circle One, Canto IVCircle One, Canto IV

LimboLimbo Those who are not saved Those who are not saved

even though they did even though they did not sin--exists in not sin--exists in Christian theology by Christian theology by Dante's time, but the Dante's time, but the poet's version of this poet's version of this region is more generous region is more generous than most. than most.

Dante's Limbo--Dante's Limbo--technically the first technically the first circle of hell--includes circle of hell--includes virtuous non-Christian virtuous non-Christian adults in addition to adults in addition to unbaptized infants. unbaptized infants.

great heroes, great heroes, thinkers, and thinkers, and creative minds of creative minds of ancient Greece and ancient Greece and Rome, and Rome, and medieval non-medieval non-ChristiansChristians

The Harrowing of HellThe Harrowing of Hell

For Dante, Limbo was also the home of major For Dante, Limbo was also the home of major figures from the Hebrew Bible, who--according to figures from the Hebrew Bible, who--according to

Christian theology--were "liberated" by Jesus Christian theology--were "liberated" by Jesus following his crucifixion. following his crucifixion.

Circle Two, Canto VCircle Two, Canto V

LustLustCarnalCarnal

Within a great Within a great whirlwind spins the whirlwind spins the souls who betrayed souls who betrayed reason to their reason to their appetites. Their sin appetites. Their sin was to abandon was to abandon themselves to the themselves to the tempest of their tempest of their passions; so they passions; so they are swept forever in are swept forever in the tempest of Hell.the tempest of Hell.

Circle Three, Canto VICircle Three, Canto VI

GluttonyGluttonyA continuous storm of rot falls, a A continuous storm of rot falls, a

mixture of stinking snow and mixture of stinking snow and freezing rain, which forms a freezing rain, which forms a vile slush resembling a giant vile slush resembling a giant garbage dump. The damned garbage dump. The damned lie frozen in this icy paste lie frozen in this icy paste swollen from their swollen from their GLUTTONY.GLUTTONY.

In life they made no higher use In life they made no higher use of the gifts of God than to of the gifts of God than to wallow in food and drink, wallow in food and drink, producers of nothing but producers of nothing but garbage. Here they lie for garbage. Here they lie for eternity, themselves like eternity, themselves like garbage, half buried in fetid garbage, half buried in fetid slush, while Cerberus (three-slush, while Cerberus (three-headed dog of hell) rips and headed dog of hell) rips and tears at them with his claws tears at them with his claws and teeth just as they grossly and teeth just as they grossly devoured their own food.devoured their own food.

Circle Four, Canto VIICircle Four, Canto VII

The Hoarders and The The Hoarders and The WastersWasters

A war in progressA war in progressSinners are divided into two Sinners are divided into two

raging mobs, each soul raging mobs, each soul straining madly at a great straining madly at a great boulder-like weight. The two boulder-like weight. The two mobs meet, clashing their mobs meet, clashing their weights against one another, weights against one another, after which they separate, after which they separate, pushing the great weights pushing the great weights apart, and begin againapart, and begin again..

One mob is the hoarders (moneygrubbers), the other the One mob is the hoarders (moneygrubbers), the other the wasters. In life they lacked moderation in regulating expenses; wasters. In life they lacked moderation in regulating expenses; they destroyed the light of God by thinking of nothing but they destroyed the light of God by thinking of nothing but money. Thus, in death they are encumbered by dead weight money. Thus, in death they are encumbered by dead weight and one excess (hoarders) punishes the other (wasters). and one excess (hoarders) punishes the other (wasters).

Their souls are so dimmed and lost that the tortured are Their souls are so dimmed and lost that the tortured are unrecognizable. unrecognizable.

Circle Five, Cantos VII-IXCircle Five, Cantos VII-IXThe last station of Upper HellThe last station of Upper Hell

The Wrathful and the The Wrathful and the SullenSullen

Angry and depressedAngry and depressed Countless souls Countless souls

attacking each other attacking each other in foul slime.in foul slime.

Bubbles rising from Bubbles rising from the slime are the the slime are the gargled hymns of the gargled hymns of the Sullen. In life they Sullen. In life they shunned the sweet shunned the sweet light of the Sun, so in light of the Sun, so in death they are forever death they are forever buried and lamenting buried and lamenting in the foul mud.in the foul mud.

DisDis: The Gate of Lower : The Gate of Lower HellHell

The City of Dis: The Capital of HellThe City of Dis: The Capital of Hell

Flaming red towers and great walls of iron Flaming red towers and great walls of iron block the entrance to the Lower Hell.block the entrance to the Lower Hell.

The rest of Hell lies within these walls.The rest of Hell lies within these walls.

The GuardsThe GuardsRebellious AngelsRebellious Angels

Creatures of Creatures of ultimate Evil, ultimate Evil,

rebels against God.rebels against God.

When faced with When faced with Ultimate Evil only Ultimate Evil only

Divine Aid can Divine Aid can bring hope. Virgil bring hope. Virgil sends prayer for sends prayer for

assistance.assistance.

While waiting for Divine Aid the While waiting for Divine Aid the terrors multiplyterrors multiply

The Three Infernal Furies The Three Infernal Furies (remorse)(remorse)

MedusaMedusa

With the appearance of Medusa Virgil With the appearance of Medusa Virgil orders Dante to cover his eyes, for she orders Dante to cover his eyes, for she

represents an Evil from which no man can represents an Evil from which no man can be saved!be saved!

The Heavenly MessengerThe Heavenly Messenger

Upon the threat of Upon the threat of Medusa the Medusa the Heavenly Heavenly

Messenger Messenger appears opening appears opening the gate with a the gate with a

single, soft touch.single, soft touch.

Circle Six, Cantos X-XICircle Six, Cantos X-XI

The HereticsThe Heretics

Those who did Those who did violence to God by violence to God by denyingdenying immortality; immortality; denying denying God’s God’s existence.existence.

Since they taught Since they taught that the soul dies that the soul dies with the body, so with the body, so their punishment is their punishment is an eternal grave in an eternal grave in the fiery morgue of the fiery morgue of God’s wrath.God’s wrath.

Circle Seven, Cantos XII-Circle Seven, Cantos XII-XVIIXVII

The Violent Round One The Violent Round One (XII)(XII)

Violence against neighborsViolence against neighbors Great war-makers, cruel Great war-makers, cruel

tyrants, highwaymen- all tyrants, highwaymen- all who shed the blood of who shed the blood of their countrymen. their countrymen.

As they wallowed in As they wallowed in blood during their lives, blood during their lives, so they are immersed in so they are immersed in the boiling blood during the boiling blood during their death, while their death, while Centaurs patrol the Centaurs patrol the banks ready to shoot banks ready to shoot any who raises himself any who raises himself out. out.

In the deepest part of In the deepest part of the river suffers the river suffers Alexander the Great and Alexander the Great and Attila the HunAttila the Hun

The Violent Round Two The Violent Round Two (XIII)(XIII)

Violence against themselves Violence against themselves

The Wood of The SuicidesThe Wood of The SuicidesThese souls are punished for destroying their own lives and These souls are punished for destroying their own lives and

potential. They are encased in thorny trees whose leaves are potential. They are encased in thorny trees whose leaves are eaten by Harpies (defilers of all they touch). Just as the supreme eaten by Harpies (defilers of all they touch). Just as the supreme expression of their lives was self destruction, so they are only expression of their lives was self destruction, so they are only allowed to speak through that which tears and destroys them; allowed to speak through that which tears and destroys them; only through their own blood can they find their voice.only through their own blood can they find their voice.

The Violent Round Three (XIV-The Violent Round Three (XIV-XVII)XVII)

Violence against God, Nature, and Violence against God, Nature, and ArtArtA great plain of burning A great plain of burning

sand upon which there sand upon which there descents a slow rain of descents a slow rain of fire. fire.

The Blasphemers (the The Blasphemers (the Violent against God)- Violent against God)- stretched upon the sandstretched upon the sand

The Sodomites (the Violent The Sodomites (the Violent against Nature)- run in against Nature)- run in endless circlesendless circles

The Usurers (the Violent The Usurers (the Violent against Art, which is the against Art, which is the Grandchild of God)- Grandchild of God)- huddle on the sandshuddle on the sands

Flight into the AbyssFlight into the Abyss

The Geryon (monster The Geryon (monster of fraud) carries of fraud) carries the travelers off the travelers off the cliff into the the cliff into the

Eighth CircleEighth Circle

Circle Eight (Malebolge), Circle Eight (Malebolge), CantosXVIII-XXXICantosXVIII-XXXI

The Fraudulent and MaliciousThe Fraudulent and Malicious

Circle Eight, Bolgia (XVIII)Circle Eight, Bolgia (XVIII)The Panderers and SeducersThe Panderers and Seducers

Driven at a fast Driven at a fast endless walk by endless walk by horned demons horned demons who hurry them who hurry them along with great along with great lashes. In life they lashes. In life they goaded others on to goaded others on to serve their own foul serve their own foul purposes; so in Hell purposes; so in Hell they are driven. they are driven.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Two Circle Eight, Bolgia Two (XVIII)(XVIII)

The FlattersThe Flatters Flatters are Flatters are

sunk in sunk in excrement; the excrement; the true equivalent true equivalent of their false of their false flatteries on flatteries on Earth:Earth:

A bunch of CRAP!A bunch of CRAP!

Circle Eight, Bolgia Three Circle Eight, Bolgia Three (XIX)(XIX)

The Simoniacs The Simoniacs Sellers of ecclesiastic Sellers of ecclesiastic

favors and offices: favors and offices: those who corrupt those who corrupt the things of Godthe things of God

The bolgia is lined The bolgia is lined with tube-like holes with tube-like holes (baptismal fonts) (baptismal fonts) and the sinners are and the sinners are placed in them placed in them upside down with upside down with the soles of their the soles of their feet ablaze…feet ablaze…

……SimoniacsSimoniacs

The sinners confinement is only temporary: as The sinners confinement is only temporary: as new sinners arrive, the souls drop through new sinners arrive, the souls drop through the bottom and disappear eternally. As they the bottom and disappear eternally. As they made a mockery of the church so they are made a mockery of the church so they are turned upside down in a mock of baptism, and turned upside down in a mock of baptism, and eventually baptized eternally in the fires of eventually baptized eternally in the fires of hell.hell.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Four Circle Eight, Bolgia Four (XX)(XX)

The Fortune Tellers and The Fortune Tellers and DivinersDivinersUtilized forbidden arts to Utilized forbidden arts to

look into the futurelook into the future

Heads turned backwards Heads turned backwards on their bodies, they are on their bodies, they are compelled to walk compelled to walk backwards through backwards through eternity, their eyes eternity, their eyes blinded with tears. blinded with tears. Those who attempted to Those who attempted to penetrate the future penetrate the future cannot even see in front cannot even see in front of themselves and must of themselves and must go backward for all go backward for all eternity.eternity.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Five Circle Eight, Bolgia Five (XXI-XXII)(XXI-XXII)

The Grafters (Political The Grafters (Political Corruption)Corruption)Sunk in boiling, sticky Sunk in boiling, sticky

pitch and guarded by pitch and guarded by demons who tear them demons who tear them to pieces with claws to pieces with claws and grappling hooks if and grappling hooks if they are caught above they are caught above the surface. They are the surface. They are stuck in their sin and stuck in their sin and hidden from sight, just hidden from sight, just as their corruption was as their corruption was hidden on Earth.hidden on Earth.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Six Circle Eight, Bolgia Six (XXIII)(XXIII)

The HypocritesThe Hypocrites

Weighted down with great leaden robes, the Weighted down with great leaden robes, the Hypocrites walk eternally round and round Hypocrites walk eternally round and round a narrow track. The robes are brilliantly a narrow track. The robes are brilliantly gilded on the outside and shaped likes a gilded on the outside and shaped likes a monk’s habit but under that lies the monk’s habit but under that lies the terrible weight of his deceit which the soul terrible weight of his deceit which the soul must bear for all eternity.must bear for all eternity.

CaiaphasCaiaphasThe Chief HypocriteThe Chief Hypocrite

The High Priest of the The High Priest of the Jews who counseled Jews who counseled the Pharisees to the Pharisees to crucify Jesus to crucify Jesus to appease the public. appease the public. He is punished by He is punished by being crucified to the being crucified to the floor of hell where floor of hell where every sinner must every sinner must walk upon him– he walk upon him– he bears the weight of all bears the weight of all hypocrisy.hypocrisy.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Seven Circle Eight, Bolgia Seven (XXIV-XXV)(XXIV-XXV)The ThievesThe Thieves

A pit full of monstrous reptiles. A pit full of monstrous reptiles. Thievery is reptilian in its secrecy; therefore it is punished by Thievery is reptilian in its secrecy; therefore it is punished by

reptilesreptiles The hands are the agents of their crimes; therefore they are bond The hands are the agents of their crimes; therefore they are bond

foreverforever As they destroy their fellowman by making their substance As they destroy their fellowman by making their substance

disappear, so is he painfully destroyed and made to disappear disappear, so is he painfully destroyed and made to disappear over and over again.over and over again.

The ThievesThe ThievesPunishmentsPunishments

Reptiles fly through the air Reptiles fly through the air and pierce the jugular vein; and pierce the jugular vein; the sinner burst into flames the sinner burst into flames and burns until only ash and burns until only ash remainsremains

Sinners rise out of their Sinners rise out of their own ashes and the cycle own ashes and the cycle repeats.repeats.

Finally, their bodies are Finally, their bodies are transformed into reptiles, transformed into reptiles, and they must and they must steal steal a a human form from another human form from another sinner. Thus they waiver sinner. Thus they waiver constantly between man constantly between man and reptile, and no sinner and reptile, and no sinner knows what to call his own.knows what to call his own.

In life they took the substance of others, transforming it into their own; so in Hell their bodies are constantly taken from them, and they are left to steal it back.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Eight (XXVI-Circle Eight, Bolgia Eight (XXVI-XXVII)XXVII)

The Evil CounselorsThe Evil CounselorsSinners move about Sinners move about

endlessly, hidden from endlessly, hidden from view inside great view inside great flames. As they stole flames. As they stole from God in their lives from God in their lives and worked through and worked through hidden agendas, so they hidden agendas, so they are stolen from sight are stolen from sight and hidden in the flames and hidden in the flames of their consciences. of their consciences. They spoke false, so the They spoke false, so the flames are made to flames are made to appears as tongues.appears as tongues.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Nine Circle Eight, Bolgia Nine (XXVIII)(XXVIII)

The Sowers of DiscordThe Sowers of DiscordA Parade of hideously A Parade of hideously

mutilated soulsmutilated soulsJust as their sin was to Just as their sin was to

rend asunder what God rend asunder what God had meant to be united, had meant to be united, so are they hacked and so are they hacked and torn through all eternity torn through all eternity by a great demon with a by a great demon with a bloody sword. The bloody sword. The mutilated are compelled mutilated are compelled to drag their bodies to drag their bodies around the pit and around the pit and return whole to the return whole to the demon to be inflicted demon to be inflicted anew.anew.

Circle Eight, Bolgia Ten (XXIX-Circle Eight, Bolgia Ten (XXIX-XXX)XXX)

The FalsifiersThe FalsifiersPunished by afflictions of Punished by afflictions of

every sense: darkness, every sense: darkness, stench, thirst, filth, stench, thirst, filth, loathsome disease, and loathsome disease, and a shrieking din. Some a shrieking din. Some run ravening through run ravening through the pit, tearing others the pit, tearing others to pieces. Just as in to pieces. Just as in life they corrupted life they corrupted society by their lies, so society by their lies, so in death sinners are in death sinners are subjected to a sum of subjected to a sum of corruptions.corruptions.

Three Classes:

I:Alchemists (falsifiers of things): loathsome disease

II: Evil Impersonators: run for ever attempting to retrieve their souls and tearing others.

III: Counterfeiters: disease and intolerable thirst

IV: False Witness: Continually battered by fellow sinners for offending with lies

The Central Pit of Malebolge The Central Pit of Malebolge (XXXI)(XXXI)

The GiantsThe Giants

A great well, at the bottom lies Cocytus, the A great well, at the bottom lies Cocytus, the Ninth Circle of Hell. The Giants and Ninth Circle of Hell. The Giants and Titans of myth and legend stand guard, Titans of myth and legend stand guard, the upper halves of their bodies rising the upper halves of their bodies rising above the rim. above the rim.

Lowered into the Final Lowered into the Final Floor of HellFloor of Hell

One giant, Antaeus, One giant, Antaeus, take the poets in take the poets in

his huge hand and his huge hand and lowers them onto lowers them onto the Floor of Hell.the Floor of Hell.

Circle Nine, Cantos XXXII-Circle Nine, Cantos XXXII-XXXIVXXXIV

TreacheryTreachery

The Last Great Water of The Last Great Water of HellHellTraitors are fixed in the ice, each according to his guilt. Traitors are fixed in the ice, each according to his guilt.

The ice is divided into four concentric rings marked by The ice is divided into four concentric rings marked by the different positions of the damned.the different positions of the damned.

The treacheries of these souls were denials of love and all The treacheries of these souls were denials of love and all human warmth. Only the remorseless dead center of human warmth. Only the remorseless dead center of the ice will serve to express their natures. As they the ice will serve to express their natures. As they denied God’s love, so are they furthest from the light denied God’s love, so are they furthest from the light and warmth of His Sun. As they denied all human ties, and warmth of His Sun. As they denied all human ties, so are they bound only by the unyielding ice. so are they bound only by the unyielding ice.

Treachery Round One: Treachery Round One: CainaCaina

Treacherous to Kin Treacherous to KinThe 1The 1stst sinners to sinners to

appear in this large appear in this large frozen lake are those frozen lake are those who were who were treacherous against treacherous against blood ties (named blood ties (named CainaCaina for Cain) . for Cain) . They have their They have their heads and necks out heads and necks out of the ice and are of the ice and are allowed to bow their allowed to bow their heads.heads.

Treachery Round Two: Treachery Round Two: AntenoraAntenora

Treacherous to CountryTreacherous to CountryNamed Named Antenora Antenora for for

Antenora, the Trojan Antenora, the Trojan who was believed to who was believed to have betrayed his city to have betrayed his city to the Greeks. They, too, the Greeks. They, too, have their heads above have their heads above the ice but they cannot the ice but they cannot bend their necks for bend their necks for relieve against the bitter relieve against the bitter cold, two are even cold, two are even gnawing on each other’s gnawing on each other’s neck. Here Dante kicks neck. Here Dante kicks a traitor, showing a a traitor, showing a savagery he has shown savagery he has shown to no other soul in Hell.to no other soul in Hell.

Treachery Round Three: Treachery Round Three: PtolomeaPtolomea

Treacherous to Host and Treacherous to Host and GuestGuest

Named Named PtolomeaPtolomea for the Ptolomaeus of Maccabees, who for the Ptolomaeus of Maccabees, who murdered his father-in-law at a banquet. These sinners murdered his father-in-law at a banquet. These sinners lie with only half of their faces above the ice and their lie with only half of their faces above the ice and their tears freeze in their eye sockets, sealing them with tears freeze in their eye sockets, sealing them with crystal visors. Thus even tears are denied them. Even crystal visors. Thus even tears are denied them. Even worse, so great is their sin that the guilty fall to the worse, so great is their sin that the guilty fall to the torments of torments of Ptolomea Ptolomea before they die, leaving their before they die, leaving their bodies still on earth, inhabited by demonsbodies still on earth, inhabited by demons

Treachery Round Four: Treachery Round Four: JudeccaJudecca

The Treacherous to Their The Treacherous to Their MastersMastersAs they face the last As they face the last

depths of hell they see depths of hell they see Satan in the distance. Satan in the distance. His beating wings are His beating wings are the source of the icy the source of the icy wind of Cocytus, the wind of Cocytus, the exhalation of all evil.exhalation of all evil.

Named Named JudeccaJudecca for Judas for Judas Iscariot, sinners in this Iscariot, sinners in this round lie completely round lie completely sealed in the ice, twisted sealed in the ice, twisted and distorted into every and distorted into every conceivable posture.conceivable posture.

The CenterThe CenterSatan/LuciferSatan/Lucifer

Fixed into the ice at the center to which flow all the Fixed into the ice at the center to which flow all the rivers of guilt is Lucifer. As he beats his great wings to rivers of guilt is Lucifer. As he beats his great wings to escape, their icy wind freezes him more surely into the escape, their icy wind freezes him more surely into the polluted ice. In a grotesque parody of the Trinty, he polluted ice. In a grotesque parody of the Trinty, he has three faces and in each mouth he eternally rips a has three faces and in each mouth he eternally rips a sinner: Judia Iscariot is in the central mouth; Brutus sinner: Judia Iscariot is in the central mouth; Brutus and Cassius (Traitors of Julius Caesar) are in the outer and Cassius (Traitors of Julius Caesar) are in the outer mouths. mouths.

Exodus HellExodus Hell

Having seen all, Dante Having seen all, Dante and Virgil climb and Virgil climb through the center, through the center, grapppling hand over grapppling hand over hand down the hairy hand down the hairy flank of Satan himself flank of Satan himself and at last, when they and at last, when they have passed the center have passed the center of all gravity, they of all gravity, they emerge from Hell. They emerge from Hell. They emerge to see the stars emerge to see the stars of Heaven just before of Heaven just before dawn on Easter Sunday.dawn on Easter Sunday.