9 circles of hell

The Nine Circles of Hell

• First Circle of Hell- Limbo. ...
• Second Circle of Hell- Lust. ...
• Third Circle of Hell- Gluttony. ...
• Fourth Circle of Hell- Greed. ...
• Fifth Circle of Hell- Wrath. ...
• Sixth Circle of Hell- Heresy. ...
• Seventh Circle of Hell- Violence. ...
• Eighth Circle of Hell- Fraud. ...
• Ninth Circle of Hell- Treachery. ...

Full Answer

What are considered to be the 9 circles of Hell?

We offer this short guide to the nine circles of Hell, as described in Dante's Inferno. First Circle: Limbo. ... Second Circle: Lust. ... Third Circle: Gluttony. ... Fourth Circle: Greed. ... Fifth Circle: Anger. ... Sixth Circle: Heresy. ... Seventh Circle: Violence. ... Eighth Circle: Fraud.

What are the punishments in the 9 circles of Hell?

Virgil proceeds to guide Dante through the nine circles of Hell. The circles are concentric, representing a gradual increase in wickedness, and culminating at the centre of the earth, where Satan is held in bondage. The sinners of each circle are punished for eternity in a fashion fitting their crimes: each punishment is a contrapasso, a symbolic instance of poetic justice.

What is the punishment in the 9th circle of Hell?

What is the punishment in the 9th circle of hell? Contrary to popular depictions of Hell as a hot, fiery place, Dante's Ninth Circle is a frozen lake because it is devoid of love and warmth. Those who get sent to the Ninth Circle are stuck in the lake, their bottom halves frozen into it and unable to move.

What are the nine planes of Hell?

• Tiamat the Chromatic Dragon, lord of Avernus
• Dispater, lord of Dis
• Mammon, lord of Minauros
• Belial, lord of Phlegethos
• Geryon, lord of Stygia
• Baalzebul, lord of Malbolge, through Grand Viceroy Moloch. ...
• Baalzebul, lord of Maladomini
• Mephistopheles, lord of Caina (a typo in later editions officially changed the spelling of the layer to Cania)

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What are the 9 circles of Hell and their punishments?

More severe sins are punished in the lower circles of hell and a corresponding punishment is inflicted for each:Circle two - lust.Circle three - gluttony.Circle four - greed.Circle five - wrath.Circle six - heresy.Circle seven - violence.Circle eight - fraud.Circle nine - treachery.

What is the 9 th circle of Hell?

Treachery was the ninth Circle of Hell. This last circle was dedicated to those people who betrayed their loved ones, friends, best friends, countries, cities, guests and even their masters.

What are the 9 circles of Heaven?

In Dante's paradise, the nine circles of heaven are an allegory for the angelic hierarchy using the planets of our solar system as names including, in order, “the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, and the Primum Mobile.”

Is there a 10th circle of Hell?

CITY OF DIS, NETHER HELL–After nearly four years of construction at an estimated cost of 750 million souls, Corpadverticus, the new 10th circle of Hell, finally opened its doors Monday.

Who is in the ninth circle?

Ninth Circle (Treachery) 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.

Why does Judas not speak in Inferno?

Why is Judas unable to speak? His tongue is a writhing snake.

How many rings of Heaven are there?

Ninth Sphere (Primum Mobile) After a brief discussion with Beatrice on the place they've come to, Dante sees an intensely bright light surrounded by nine circles which, as he soon learns, are the nine orders of angels surrounding God in the center.

How many levels of purgatory are there?

Purgatory proper consists of seven levels or terraces (Purgatorio X–XXVII) of suffering and spiritual growth, associated with the seven deadly sins.

Is Dante's Inferno real?

Dante writes all of The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise) away from Florence. The Inferno is was completed by 1314. The FICTIONAL date of this poem is 1300.

What are the three rings in the 7th circle of Hell?

Here, Dante sees Alexander the Great (disputed), Dionysius I of Syracuse, Guy de Montfort and many other notable historical and mythological figures such as the Centaurus, sank into a river of boiling blood and fire. In the Middle Ring, the poet sees suicides who have been turned into trees and bushes which are fed upon by harpies. But he also sees here profligates, chased and torn to pieces by dogs. In the Inner Ring are blasphemers and sodomites, residing in a desert of burning sand and burning rain falling from the sky.

What are the two groups in the Fourth Circle of Hell?

They are divided into two groups – those who hoarded possessions and those who lavishly spent it – jousting.

How many Bolgias are there in the circle of Hell?

This circle of Hell is divided into 10 Bolgias or stony ditches with bridges between them. In Bolgia 1, Dante sees panderers and seducer. In Bolgia 2 he finds flatterers. After crossing the bridge to Bolgia 3, he and Virgil see those who are guilty of simony.

What are the 4 rounds of Hell?

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.

What is the second circle of hell?

Second Circle (Lust) In the Second Circle of Hell, Dante and his companion Virgil find people who were overcome by lust. They are punished by being blown violently back and forth by strong winds, preventing them from finding peace and rest.

What does the vile slush symbolize?

The vile slush symbolizes personal degradation of one who overindulges in food, drink, and other worldly pleasures, while the inability to see others ly ing nearby represents the gluttons’ selfishness and coldness.

What does the wind mean in Dante's story?

Strong winds symbolize the restlessness of a person who is led by the desire for fleshly pleasures. Again, Dante sees many notable people from history and mythology including Cleopatra, Tristan, Helen of Troy and others who were adulterous during their lifetime.

What are the nine circles of hell?

It is a long narrative poem in the Italian language. The poem has three parts, and the narrative describes Dante’s journey through the three realms namely Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso.

Where is the fifth circle of hell?

Fifth Circle of Hell is present in the stinking, decaying water of the Styx river. In this Circle live the souls who lived their entire life wrathfully. According to the poem, Dante along with Virgil find the souls to fight each other furiously on the surface of the Styx river.

What is succeeded by the second circle of hell?

Limbo is succeeded by the Second Circle of Hell. People who were driven by Lust are tormented here. In the poem, Dante says that strong violent winds blow in the Second Circle of Hell.

What is the first ring of the 7th circle?

In the First Ring of Seventh Circle, souls of people who committed violent crimes against other humans are being tortured. It includes criminals like the murderers, tyrants, war-makers, looters and many more. Their souls are dipped in sweltering blood and flames of the river Phlegethon.

What is the meaning of the first circle of hell?

They had to cross the river Acheron on a boat to reach Limbo. The literal meaning of Limbo is ‘boundary’ or ‘edge.’ The First Circle contains people who did not accept Christ.

Why is the neck above the ice in the first round of the Ninth Circle?

Their neck and head are above the ice so that they could bow and protect themselves from the biting-cold winds.

How many parts does Dante have?

The poem has three parts, and the narrative describes Dante’s journey through the three realms namely Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. He is guided and accompanied by Virgil, an Ancient Roman poet from the time of Augustus. The nine circles of Hell are described in the first part of the poem, Inferno.

What is the third circle in Dante's day?

Third Circle: Gluttony. Today’s forecast calls for plenty of icy rain and slush — a “wintery mix” for all eternity.

What does Dante say about the fifth circle?

Dante tells us that the wrathful and angry souls of this circle spend eternity waging battle on the River of Styx. If playing pirates forever sounds like your idea of a good time, then the fifth circle can’t be too bad. Be prepared to hoist the Jolly Roger and go to war against that one guy in line who yelled at your favorite barista, and the road rage-possessed driver who very nearly rear-ended you last week.

How many trenches are there in the eighth circle?

The eighth circle is subdivided into ten trenches. We won’t get into the specifics of who goes where (Too bad, Dante. That’s what you get for making me write abut the seventh circle) but here you’ll find con artists of all sorts. Dante described ditches, but I prefer to think of the eight circle as being a giant cubicle farm full of phone and internet fraudsters. Welcome, supposed “IRS agents” who insist on being paid in iTunes cards.

What is the first circle?

First Circle: Limbo. The first circle is home to the unbaptized and virtuous pagans. It’s not Heaven, but as far as Hell goes, it isn’t too bad: It’s the retirement community of the afterlife. Hippocrates and Aristotle will be your neighbors, so any attempt at small talk will probably turn into Big Talk in a hurry.

How many rings are there in the ring of the ring of the ring?

It is composed of three rings. The outer ring is filled with blood and fire and reserved for murderers and thugs. That’s fine, but it gets sketchier from here. The middle ring is where, according to Dante, suicide victims go.

Why is the neck above the eyes in Dante's ninth circle?

Their neck and head are above the eyes so that they could bow and protect themselves from the biting winds.

Who named the third round of the ninth circle?

Dante named the third round of the ninth circle Ptolomea after Ptolemy. He called his father in law along with his sons for a treat and killed them. Here demons punish traitors who betrayed their guests.

What does it mean when souls fight each other?

The souls struggle and fight each other for an entire eternity. They choke each other and stop each other from expressing anything or even speaking . The act signifies their anger which when told, would harm other people. Dante mentioned that this circle’s wrathful and angry souls spend eternity waging battle on the River of Styx.

What are the demons in the fifth Bolgia?

However, in the fifth Bolgia, demons tormented politicians who sold their public offices for money. Demons dunk them in Boeing pitch for indulging in corruption and betraying their country. Further, in the poem, Dante mentions a Claude demon called Malibranch who would tear them apart if they tried to come above the surface of the pitch.

How many rings does Dante have?

Dante further divided this circle into three rings. They send souls to suffer in the circles depending on the severity of their violence. If the guilty try to rise out of the blood more than they are limited to, Centaur, who is guarding them will shoot them.

What did the first ring do?

The first ring tortured the souls of people who were violent against their neighbours. Therefore, this ring engaged in violent crimes against their fellow man, including murder and war. They submerge souls in a river of boiling blood. Centaurs shoot them if they rise too high out of the river.

What happens in the third circle?

In the third circle, the souls of those who indulged in voracious feasting and appetite are tortured.

What is the 9th circle?

The ninth circle holds the souls of those who were guilty of treachery, or betrayal. All of the souls in the ninth circle are submerged in ice, but there are four layers. Those who committed the worst betrayals are deeper within the ice.

What Are the Layers of Hell?

People who committed the nine sins during their lifetime were assigned to an analogous circle of hell and destined to receive punishment. The following subsections will describe the 9 circles of hell punishments and the historical figures encountered in each.

What is the fourth layer of the eighth circle?

In the fourth layer of the eighth circle are those who practiced sorcery or falsely claimed to be seers or prophets. Their heads face backward and they are blinded by tears. They forever walk backward in a circle.

Which layer of the eighth circle contains hypocrites who must walk in weighted robes?

The sixth layer of the eighth circle contains hypocrites who must walk in weighted robes. Those who crucified the Christian savior Jesus Christ are among those punished in the sixth layer.

Where are the souls of corrupt politicians, dishonest businessmen, and blackmailers?

The souls of corrupt politicians, dishonest businessmen, and blackmailers inhabit the fifth layer of the eighth circle. They are trapped in tar and are guarded by demons that will claw them if they attempt to escape.

Which layer of the eighth circle is flattered?

People who flattered others in order to get their way or to get something from them are in the second layer of the eighth circle. They are forever trapped in human waste.

What degree does Crystal have?

Crystal has a bachelor's degree in English, a certification in General Studies, experience as an Educational Services Editor, and has assisted in teaching both middle and high school English.

What is the first circle of hell?

1st Circle of Hell (Limbo) Dante’s First Circle of Hell is inhabited by virtuous non-Christians and unbaptized pagans who are punished forever in an inferior form of Heaven. They live in a palace with seven gates which symbolize the seven virtues.

What are the two groups of people in the Fourth Circle of Hell?

They are divided into two groups – those who acquired possessions and those who lavishly filled it – jousting. They use great weights as a weapon, forcing it with their chests which symbolizes their selfish drive for fortune during their lifetime. The two groups that are guarded by a character called Pluto (probably the old Greek ruler of the underworld) are so controlled with their actions that the two poets don’t try to speak to them. Here, Dante speaks to see many clergymen including cardinals and popes.

What monster is in the third circle of hell?

When reaching the Third Circle of Hell, Dante and Virgil find souls of gluttons who are faced by a worm-monster Cerberus. Sinners in this circle of Hell are penalized by being compelled to lie in a vile slush that is presented by never-ending icy rain.

What are the icons in Canto VIII?

Icons: Phlegyas, in Canto VIII; Filippo Argenti, in Canto VIII; Fallen Angels, in Canto VIII; Fueies and Medusa in Cantos VIII-IX; Heaven’s Messenger, In Canto IX.

How many circles of hell are there in Dante's Inferno?

Dante’s Inferno 9 Circles of Hell. Dante’s ‘Inferno’, an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri in 1300, chronicles the journey of Dante as he is guided through the Nine Circles of Hell by an ancient poet named Virgil. This lesson will focus on the Seventh Circle of Violence. Dantes Inferno 9 Circles of Hell.

What is the name of the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy?

Dante’s Inferno 9 Circles of Hell: Inferno, the first part of Dante’s Divine Comedy that motivated the latest Dan Brown’s blockbuster of the identical title explains the poet’s imagination of Hell. The story starts with the narrator (who is the poet himself) being dropped in a dark wood where he is struck by three beasts which he cannot fly. He is unleashed by the Roman poet Virgil who is sent by Beatrice (Dante’s ideal woman). Together, they start the journey into the netherworld or the 9 Circles of Hell.

Who are the heretics in Dante's Sixth Circle?

Here, Dante talks with a couple of Florentines – Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti – but he also sees other renowned historical characters including the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, and Pope Anastasius II. The latter, however, is according to some convenient scholars denounced by Dante as a heretic by confusion. Instead, as some scholars claim, the poet probably meant the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I.

Dante's Inferno: Summary and Analysis

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was a writer, philosopher, and politician from the medieval period in the Italian city-state of Florence. He is considered a significant contributor to the western canon of literature and especially the development of Italian literature in the medieval era.

Descriptions of Dante's 9 Circles of Hell

There is a specific order to Hell as described by Dante; the nine circles of Hell are definitive in their structure and purpose, and they each are a component part of Hell's geography. The chart below gives a brief glimpse at Hell's organization of each circle's number, name, the sin it represents, and a description of punishment for that sin.

Meaning & Symbolism of Dante's Circles of Hell

Dante's circles of Hell are graphic and symbolic depictions of punishment for those who had sinned against medieval Catholic interpretations of Christianity and God. Dante expressed a sure poetic justice for those trapped in Hell: each sin precisely fitted to a different punishment.

What are the nine circles of Hell?

Virgil proceeds to guide Dante through the nine circles of Hell. The circles are concentric, representing a gradual increase in wickedness, and culminating at the centre of the earth, where Satan is held in bondage. The sinners of each circle are punished for eternity in a fashion fitting their crimes: each punishment is a contrapasso, a symbolic instance of poetic justice. For example, later in the poem, Dante and Virgil encounter fortune-tellers who must walk forward with their heads on backward, unable to see what is ahead, because they tried to see the future through forbidden means. Such a contrapasso "functions not merely as a form of divine revenge, but rather as the fulfilment of a destiny freely chosen by each soul during his or her life". People who sinned, but prayed for forgiveness before their deaths are found not in Hell but in Purgatory, where they labour to become free of their sins. Those in Hell are people who tried to justify their sins and are unrepentant.

How many circles does Dante have in Hell?

As a Christian, Dante adds Circle 1 (Limbo) to Upper Hell and Circle 6 (Heresy) to Lower Hell, making 9 Circles in total; incorporating the Vestibule of the Futile, this leads to Hell containing 10 main divisions. This "9+1=10" structure is also found within the Purgatorio and Paradiso.

What is the name of the circle in Canto IV?

Canto IV#N#Dante wakes up to find that he has crossed the Acheron, and Virgil leads him to the first circle of the abyss, Limbo, where Virgil himself resides. The first circle contains the unbaptized and the virtuous pagans, who, although not sinful enough to warrant damnation, did not accept Christ. Dorothy L. Sayers writes, "After those who refused choice come those without opportunity of choice. They could not, that is, choose Christ; they could, and did, choose human virtue, and for that they have their reward." Limbo shares many characteristics with the Asphodel Meadows, and thus, the guiltless damned are punished by living in a deficient form of Heaven. Without baptism ("the portal of the faith that you embrace") they lacked the hope for something greater than rational minds can conceive. When Dante asked if anyone has ever left Limbo, Virgil states that he saw Jesus ("a Mighty One") descend into Limbo and take Adam, Abel, Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, and Rachel (see Limbo of the Patriarchs) into his all-forgiving arms and transport them to Heaven as the first human souls to be saved. The event, known as the Harrowing of Hell, would have occurred in AD 33 or 34.

What is the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy?

First part of Dante's Divine Comedy. "Dante's Inferno" redirects here. For other uses, see Dante's Inferno (disambiguation). Canto I from the Inferno, the first part of the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. v.

Where do Canto V#N#Dante and Virgil enter the second circle?

Canto V#N#Dante and Virgil leave Limbo and enter the Second Circle – the first of the circles of Incontinence – where the punishments of Hell proper begin. It is described as "a part where no thing gleams". They find their way hindered by the serpentine Minos, who judges all of those condemned for active, deliberately willed sin to one of the lower circles. Minos sentences each soul to its torment by wrapping his tail around himself a corresponding number of times. Virgil rebukes Minos, and he and Dante continue on.

What does Dante say about the gate of hell?

Dante passes through the gate of Hell, which bears an inscription ending with the famous phrase " Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate ", most frequently translated as "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Dante and his guide hear the anguished screams of the Uncommitted. These are the souls of people who in life took no sides; the opportunists who were for neither good nor evil, but instead were merely concerned with themselves. Among these Dante recognizes a figure implied to be Pope Celestine V, whose "cowardice (in selfish terror for his own welfare) served as the door through which so much evil entered the Church". Mixed with them are outcasts who took no side in the Rebellion of Angels. These souls are forever unclassified; they are neither in Hell nor out of it, but reside on the shores of the Acheron. Naked and futile, they race around through the mist in eternal pursuit of an elusive, wavering banner (symbolic of their pursuit of ever-shifting self-interest) while relentlessly chased by swarms of wasps and hornets, who continually sting them. Loathsome maggots and worms at the sinners' feet drink the putrid mixture of blood, pus, and tears that flows down their bodies. This symbolizes the sting of their guilty conscience and the repugnance of sin. This may also be seen as a reflection of the spiritual stagnation in which they lived.

Who did Dante see in the book?

Dante next encounters a group of philosophers, including Aristotle with Socrates and Plato at his side, as well as Democritus, "Diogenes" (either Diogenes the Cynic or Diogenes of Apollonia ), Anaxagoras, Thales, Empedocles, Heraclitus, and "Zeno" (either Zeno of Elea or Zeno of Citium ). He sees the scientist Dioscorides, the mythical Greek poets Orpheus and Linus, and Roman statesmen Marcus Tullius Cicero and Seneca. Dante sees the Alexandrian geometer Euclid and Ptolemy, the Alexandrian astronomer and geographer, as well as the physicians Hippocrates and Galen. He also encounters Avicenna, a Persian polymath, and Averroes, a medieval Andalusian polymath known for his commentaries on Aristotle's works. Dante and Virgil depart from the four other poets and continue their journey.