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. ...
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.
Who is in the 9th circle of Hell?
Who was in the 9th circle of Hell? At the center of the ninth Circle of Hell, Satan is depicted as a giant and terrifying beast with six wings and three faces (one red, one black and one a pale yellow), an inversion of the Holy Trinity.
What does nine circles of hell mean?
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.
What are the seven levels of Hell?
The next four levels are used to punish sins of self-indulgence, which include lust, gluttony, greed and anger. Levels six and seven are used to punish violent sins, including violence against God like heresy or blasphemy. Finally, levels eight and nine punish malicious sinners, or those who have committed fraud or treason.
What are the 9 circles of Hell in order?
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.More items...
What do the 9 circles of Hell represent?
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 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 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.”
Why does Judas not speak in Inferno?
Why is Judas unable to speak? His tongue is a writhing snake.
Is there really a Paradise Purgatory or Inferno?
Purgatory is a middle place between Paradise and Inferno. It holds the people who are in the process of repenting of their sins after they have died. The Bible does not have a middle place. It's just Heaven and Hell, and that's it.
How is Paradiso different to Inferno and Purgatory?
In Paradiso, the main character, with the guidance of his beloved Beatrice, travel through the nine celestial spheres of Heaven. As opposed to Inferno and Purgatorio, in the last part of the poem the protagonist encounters virtues, not sins.
Why is the ninth circle of hell cold?
Satan is at the center of Hell, below the ninth circle. Satan is being punished for betraying God and is therefore the furthest from God's light. T...
What are the layers of hell called?
The layers of Hell are called circles. The nine circles spiral downward until reaching the bottom point which is as far from heaven as possible.
What are the 9 circles of hell and what do they mean?
The 9 circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno hold the souls of sinners. Each circle contains those guilty of specific sins. Lower circles hold the soul...
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.
The second circle of Hell: Lust
According to Dante’s Inferno 9 Circles of Hell, Lust, the second circle of Hell, exceeds Limbo. People, who were driven by Lust, suffer from torment here.
The third circle of Hell: Gluttony
In the third circle, the souls of those who indulged in voracious feasting and appetite are tortured.
The fourth circle of Hell: Greed
The person who condemns the sin of greed is explicitly punished in the fourth circle of Hell.
The Fifth Circle of Hell: Wrath
The fifth circle of Hell is present in the stinking decaying of the Styx River.
The Sixth Circle of Hell: Heresy
The sixth circle of Hell marks the beginning of lower Hell. They torture souls in successive processes, who committed heinous crimes.
The Seventh Circle of Hell: Violence
Consequently, the souls of people who indulge in violence are punished and tortured in the seventh circle of Hell.
The Eighth Circle of Hell: Fraud
The eighth circle of Hell is Mailbuch, meaning evil ditches. Dante divided this circle into ten trenches or Bolgia.
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 third ring?
The Third Ring has souls of people who showed violence against God, Nature or Art. 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.
What is the third round of the ninth circle called?
The Third Round of Ninth Circle is called Ptolomaea, called after Ptolemy. He called his father-in-law along with his sons for a treat and killed them. Here, traitors who betrayed their guests are punished. The Fourth Round of Ninth Circle is called Judecca named after Judas Iscariot.
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.
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.
Dante's Inferno
In the early 1300's, the Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote the Divine Comedy. The first of the three cantiche, or sections, is Inferno. In Inferno, Dante takes a journey through each of the 9 circles of hell in an attempt to save the soul of the woman he loves, Beatrice.
9 Circles of Hell
Each of the 9 circles in hell represents a different sin, each with its own degree of wickedness. The punishment, which is relevant to each sin is inflicted in the corresponding circle. As Dante travels through each circle, he encounters notable figures from history who were guilty of sin.
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 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 important traditional and imaginary figures such as the Centaurus, submerged into a river of boiling blood and fire. In the Middle Ring, the poet sees self-murders who have been transformed into trees and bushes which are fed upon by harpies. But he also sees here profligates, scattered 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 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 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 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.
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 are the 4 rounds of Hell?
Those who performed more severe sin are more buried within the ice. Each of the 4 Rounds is called after an individual who represents the sin. Thus Round 1 is named Caina after Cain who killed his brother Abel, Round 2 is called 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.
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.
