Dante’s Inferno: Understanding the 9 Circles of Hell

Inferno is the first part of The Divine Comedy of Dante. The most recent bestseller by Dan Brown, has the same title and describes the vision of Hell of the poet inspired by this comedy. In the story, the narrator is lost in a dark wood where three beasts attack him. As a result, he is unable to run away from there. But Beatrice sends Virgil (the Roman poet) to rescue the narrator (in this regard, you need to know that Beatrice is Dante's ideal woman). They had started their journey into the 9 Circles of Hell together.

Dante Alighieri, who is an Italian poet, wrote the Divine Comedy in the early 1300’s. Inferno is the first one among the three sections. You can see Dante's journey through every circle of Hell to save her beloved woman, Beatrice. In this case, the spirit of Virgil who is the Roman poet and author of the epic Aeneid, guided Dante throughout his journey.

The epic poem called "The Divine Comedy" was written in the 14th century. Still, it is considered as a great literature work across the world. The first part of this epic poem is followed by "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso." Every circle among the 9 Circles of hell in Dante’s Inferno is the representative of a different sin, and the residents of each circle suffer from different punishments according to their sin. While traveling through every circle, Dante saw some renowned figures who felt guilty of sin.

What is Dante’s Inferno?

It is the first part of The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri. This Italian poet was born in 1265 in Florence, Italy.

Unbroken Circles:

In 'Inferno,' you can see Dante navigating through nine different levels of Hell to save the soul of Beatrice. Every circle is the representative of a particular sin and the residents of every circle need to undergo different torments. While traveling through the 9 Circles Of Hell, Dante met prominent figures in history who were kept in these circles according to their sin.

9 Circles Of Hell In Dante’s Inferno:

The name of the first circle is Limbo. Every circle is the representative of its own moral misdeed and the punishment according to the wrongdoings. The ninth circle among the 9 Circles Of hell in Dante’s Inferno is for such sinners who are worse.

• First Circle Of Hell: Limbo

It is the first circle of Hell, which is also the residence of the virtuous pagans. Both Virgil and Dante needed to cross a river named Acheron using a boat. Although they used to lead their lives extraordinarily, they didn't accept Christ by the hearts. Besides, neither they were baptized nor they have faith in entering the Kingdom of Heaven. 

But they were not sinful. That's why they were not instructed to live in Hell. So, they lived in Limbo. This first circle is the edge or boundary of Hell. Limbo is explained in the book as a place where people didn't know about the existence of Christ. Dante has seen Ovid, Homer, Socrates, Aristotle, Julius Caesar, and many more in Limbo. Although it is not like heaven, it can't be represented as bad as hell.

In Limbo, Virgil stayed along with other poets and philosophers. Virgil made his return after the completion of his adventure with Dante. In this circle, the residents don't get physically tortured. Instead, they suffer from sadness. The reason is that they are very close to heaven, but they will not be able to enter heaven ever.

• Second Circle of Hell: Lust

The second circle was a stormy and dark realm. Here, Dante sees Paris, Achilles, Tristan, Cleopatra, and Dido. This circle is considered the final destination of the lustful and adulterous. At the time of Dante, the two most renowned residents of this circle were Cleopatra and Helen of Troy.

• Third Circle of Hell: Gluttony

Gluttony is for those who overindulge. When Dante travels through this circle, he meets normal people. There were not any gods from mythology or any characters from epic poems. Boccaccio mentioned one among these characters, named Ciacco which he incorporated into  "The Decameron," his 14th-century collection of tales.

• Fourth Circle of Hell: Greed

In this circle, they meet Plutus. Greek Mythology says that Plutus was the God of money and wealth. Greed Circle is for those people who always squander money. The 4th circle is the first one where Virgil and Dante both didn't communicate with any inhabitants. Because according to Dante, greed is a higher sin. 

• Fifth Circle of Hell: Anger

When Dante and Virgil attempt to navigate through the walls of Dis, the Furies threaten them. It helped Dante in his evaluation of the nature of sin. As a result, he starts asking himself as well as his life once he understands what he is doing might lead him to this permanent torture. There is a big river, Styx, against which the circle exists. It is the residence of the angry and the rageful who always remain busy in fighting with each other. Moreover, distressed and ill-lit were kept in this circle.

• Sixth Circle of Hell: Heresy

This circle is representative of the rejection of political and religious norms. In this circle, Dante met Farinata degli Uberti, who is an aristocrat and a military leader. Farinata degli Uberti attempted to win the Italian throne. Dante also saw Epicurus, Pope Anastasius II, and Emperor Frederick II in this circle.

• Seventh Circle of Hell: Violence

The Seventh Circle of Hell is divided into rings or sub-circles— outer, middle, and inner. In these three sub-circles, several types of violent criminals were kept. The outer ring was for those having a violent nature against people and property, like Attila the Hun. It is guarded by Centaurs who use arrows to shoot the people living there. The middle ring was the residence of those committing violence against themselves like suicide. In this sub-circle, harpies eat the sinners perpetually. The inner ring is the final one, where you can see those who are violent against God and nature. Brunetto Latini was kept in this ring.

• Eighth Circle of Hell: Fraud

Fraud is the eighth circle of hell. This circle is totally different from the earlier seven circles, because it is the residence of those who commit fraud. Malebolge or the eighth circle is called "Evil Pockets” and has ten different ditches. People who were kept in this circle, were categorized into different types, including:

• panderers,
• seducers,
• flatterers,
• simoniacs (it refers to those people who sell ecclesiastical preferment),
• sorcerers,

• barrators (corrupt politicians are meant here),

• schismatics (it refers to those people who want to create new religions by separating the existing ones), and
• alchemists

There are various demons who guard every bolgia. People who live here suffer from different punishments.

• Ninth Circle of Hell: Treachery

It is the last circle among all nine circles of hell. This circle is also divided into four rounds.

• Caina is the first round, and it is named after the biblical Cain. He murdered his brother, whose name is Abel. Caina is for those who betrayed their families.
• Antenora is the second round, which is named after the Antenor of Troy, who was known for betraying the Greeks. In Antenora, political and national traitors were kept.
• Ptolomaea is the name of the third round, which is named after Ptolemy. He is Abubus's son, and he invited Simon Maccabaeus and his sons to dinner. Then, Ptolemy killed them. The third round is for hosts betraying their guests. They were punished adamantly because they had entered into a voluntary relationship inviting guests. The reason is that entering into a relationship of your own will and then betraying in that relationship is more odious than betraying a relationship which is born into.
• Judecca, which is named after Judas Iscariot, is the fourth round. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ. It is reserved for those who have betrayed their masters, lords, or well-doers.

Center of Hell:

Dante and Virgil have come to the center of hell after traveling through all the nine circles of hell. In the center of Hell, they met Satan, known as a three-headed beast. Every mouth of Satan eats a particular person. While the right mouth is eating Cassius, the left one is eating Brutus. The center one is eating Judas Iscariot. After betraying Julius Caesar, both Cassius and Brutus murdered him. The same thing was done by Judas to Christ. According to the opinion of Dante, the ultimate sinners are these people. The reason is that with full consciousness, they betrayed their lords, appointed by God.

The Bottom Line:

Dante's Inferno, the first part of The Divine Comedy, is still relevant today despite it being written centuries ago. The 9 Circles Of Hell In Dante’s Inferno are representative of various types of sins. The main motive of Inferno is to teach us a lesson. Through Inferno, Dante represented human lives and explained the consequences of our actions. Dante’s Inferno can be considered as a warning to stay away from viciousness & greediness and lead an ethical, moral, as well as righteous life.