9 Circles of Hell (Dante's Inferno)

Inferno, the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy that inspired the latest Dan Brown's
bestseller of the same title describes the poet's vision of Hell. The story begins with the
narrator (who is the poet himself) being lost in a dark wood where he is attacked by three
beasts which he cannot escape. He is rescued by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by
Beatrice (Dante's ideal woman). Together, they begin the journey into the underworld or the
9 Circles of Hell.

First Circle (Limbo) Second Circle (Lust)

Dante’s First Circle of Hell is resided In the Second Circle of Hell, Dante and
by virtuous non-Christians and his companion Virgil find people who
unbaptized pagans who are punished were overcome by lust. They are
with eternity in an inferior form of punished by being blown violently
Heaven. They live in a castle with back and forth by strong winds,
seven gates which symbolize the seven preventing them from finding peace
virtues. Here, Dante sees many and rest. Strong winds symbolize the
prominent people from classical restlessness of a person who is led by
antiquity such as Homer, Socrates, the desire for fleshly pleasures. Again,
Aristotle, Cicero, Hippocrates, and Dante sees many notable people from
Julius Caesar. history and mythology including
Cleopatra, Tristan, Helen of Troy and
others who were adulterous during
their lifetime.
 Third Circle (Gluttony) Fourth Circle (Greed)

When reaching the Third Circle of In the Fourth Circle of Hell, Dante and
Hell, Dante and Virgil find souls of Virgil see the souls of people who are
gluttons who are overlooked by a punished for greed. They are divided
worm-monster Cerberus. Sinners in into two groups – those who hoarded
this circle of Hell are punished by possessions and those who lavishly
being forced to lie in a vile slush that is spent it – jousting. They use great
produced by never-ending icy rain. weights as a weapon, pushing it with
The vile slush symbolizes personal their chests which symbolizes their
degradation of one who overindulges selfish drive for fortune during their
in food, drink, and other worldly lifetime. The two groups that are
pleasures, while the inability to see guarded by a character called Pluto
others lying nearby represents the (probably the ancient Greek ruler of
gluttons’ selfishness and coldness. the underworld) are so occupied with
Here, Dante speaks to a character their actions that the two poets don’t
called Ciacco who also tells him that try to speak to them. Here, Dante says
the Guelphs (a fraction supporting the to see many clergymen including
Pope) will defeat and expel the cardinals and popes.
Ghibellines (a fraction supporting the
Emperor to which Dante adhered)
from Florence which happened in 1302
before the poem was written (after
1308).
 Fifth Circle (Anger) Sixth Circle (Heresy)

The Fifth Circle of Hell is where the When reaching the Sixth Circle of Hell,
wrathful and sullen are punished for Dante and Virgil see heretics who are
their sins. Transported on a boat by condemned to eternity in flaming
Phlegyas, Dante and Virgil see the tombs. Here, Dante talks with a couple
furious fighting each other on the of Florentines – Farinata degli Uberti
surface of the river Styx and the sullen and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti – but he
gurgling beneath the surface of the also sees other notable historical
water. Again, the punishment reflects figures including the ancient Greek
the type of the sin committed during philosopher Epicurus, Holy Roman
their lifetime. While passing through, Emperor Frederick II, and Pope
the poets are approached by Filippo Anastasius II. The latter, however, is
Argenti, a prominent Florentine according to some modern scholars
politician who confiscated Dante’s condemned by Dante as a heretic by
property after his expulsion from mistake. Instead, as some scholars
Florence. argue, the poet probably meant the
Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I.
 Seventh Circle (Violence) Eight Circle (Fraud)

The Seventh Circle of Hell is divided The Eight Circle of Hell is resided by
into three rings. The Outer Ring the fraudulent. Dante and Virgil reach
houses murderers and others who it on the back of Geryon, a flying
were violent to other people and monster with different natures, just
property. Here, Dante sees Alexander like the fraudulent. This circle of Hell
the Great (disputed), Dionysius I of is divided into 10 Bolgias or stony
Syracuse, Guy de Montfort and many ditches with bridges between them. In
other notable historical and Bolgia 1, Dante sees panderers and
mythological figures such as the seducer. In Bolgia 2 he finds flatterers.
Centaurus, sank into a river of boiling After crossing the bridge to Bolgia 3,
blood and fire. In the Middle Ring, the he and Virgil see those who are guilty
poet sees suicides who have been of simony. After crossing another
turned into trees and bushes which are bridge between the ditches to Bolgia 4,
fed upon by harpies. But he also sees they find sorcerers and false prophets.
here profligates, chased and torn to In Bolgia 5 are housed corrupt
pieces by dogs. In the Inner Ring are politicians, in Bolgia 6 are hypocrites
blasphemers and sodomites, residing and in the remaining 4 ditches, Dante
in a desert of burning sand and finds hypocrites (Bolgia 7), thieves
burning rain falling from the sky. (Bolgia 7), evil counselors and advisers
(Bolgia 8), divisive individuals (Bolgia
9) and various falsifiers such as
alchemists, perjurers, and counterfeits
(Bolgia 10).
Ninth Circle (Treachery)

The last Ninth Circle of Hell is divided

into 4 Rounds according to the
seriousness of the sin. Though all
residents are frozen in an icy lake.
Those who committed more severe sin
are deeper within the ice. Each of the 4
Rounds is named after an individual
who personifies the sin. Thus Round 1
is named Caina after Cain who killed
his brother Abel, Round 2 is named
Antenora after Anthenor of Troy who
was Priam’s counselor during the
Trojan War, Round 3 is named
Ptolomaea after Ptolemy (son of
Abubus), while Round 4 is named
Judecca after Judas Iscariot, the apostle
who betrayed Jesus with a kiss.