Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri

Author

Dante Alighieri, born in 1265 in Florence, Italy, is one of the most illustrious poets of the Western literary tradition.

I. 1st Circle: limbo

unbaptized infants reside here, deprived of heaven but not tormented.

I. 2. lust

blown about by strong winds.

I. 3. gluttony (obsessed)

lie in a vile slush produced by ceaseless foul rain

I. 4. avarice and prodigality (greed)

push heavy weights against each other

I. 5. wrath (Anger)

wrathful fight on the surface of the river Styx, and the sullen lie beneath it.

I. 6. heresy (false teachings)

trapped in flaming tombs

I. 7. violence

violent sinners against neighbors, self, and God.

I. 8. malebolge - fraud

tormented in ten ditches (bolge), each with a different form of punishment.

I. 9. cocytus - treachery

Traitors are frozen in a lake of ice

Pu. Ante-Purgatory

Souls of the excommunicated and the late repentant

Pu. 1st terrace: The proud

carry heavy stones to learn humility

Pu. 2. The envious

eyes sewn shut and wear coarse cloaks.

Pu. 3. The wrathful

walk in acrid smoke

Pu. 4. The slothful (lazy)

who engage in constant, hurried movement

Pu. 5. The avaricious and prodigal

lie face down on the ground

Pu. 6. The gluttonous

suffer from extreme hunger and thirst

Pu. 7. The lustful

walk in flames

P. 1st Sphere moon

Inconstant – failed vows.

P. 2. mercury

Ambitious – sought fame.

P. 3. venus

Lovers

P. 4. sun

The wise – theologians & philosophers.

P. 5. mars

Warriors of faith.

P. 6. jupiter

Warriors of faith.

P. 7. saturn

Contemplatives

P. 8. fixed stars

Triumphant Church – apostles & saints.

P. 9. primum mobile

angels.

P. The Empyrean

Pure light, God’s presence, vision of divine love.