Dante's Inferno: A Guide to the 9 Circles of Hell

Dante’s "Inferno" is the first part of his three-part epic poem "The Divine Comedy," written in the 14th century and considered one of the world’s great works of literature. "Inferno" is followed by "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso."

Those approaching "Inferno" for the first time might benefit from a brief structural description. This is Dante’s journey through the nine circles of hell, guided by the poet Virgil. At the beginning of the story, a woman, Beatrice, calls for an angel to bring Virgil to guide Dante on his journey so that no harm will befall him.

Dante's 9 Circles of Hell

The nine circles of hell, as depicted in Dante's Inferno, represent a gradual descent into increasing levels of sin and punishment—from the first circle, Limbo, to the ninth circle, which is reserved for the worst sinners. Each level represents various types of moral wrongdoing and the corresponding punishment.

First Circle of Hell: Limbo

In the book, limbo is where those who never knew Christ exist. Dante encounters several historical figures, including ​Ovid, Homer, Socrates, Aristotle, Julius Caesar, and more, in this circle.

Second Circle of Hell: Lust

In the second circle, a stormy and dark realm, Dante encounters Achilles, Paris, Tristan, Cleopatra, and Dido, among others.

Third Circle of Hell: Gluttony

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English Translation of Dante's Divine Comedy: Inferno: Canto III

By Michael San Filippo

The third circle is reserved for those who overindulge. Dante encounters ordinary people here, not characters from epic poems or gods from mythology. The author Boccaccio took one of these characters, Ciacco, and incorporated him into his 14th-century collection of tales called "The Decameron."

Fourth Circle of Hell: Greed

Dante encounters more ordinary people in the fourth circle but also the guardian of the circle, Pluto, the mythological king of the underworld. This circle is reserved for people who hoarded or squandered their money, but Dante and Virgil do not directly interact with any of its inhabitants. This is the first time they pass through a circle without speaking to anyone, a commentary on Dante’s opinion of greed as a higher sin.

Fifth Circle of Hell: Anger

Dante and Virgil are threatened by the Furies when they try to enter through the walls of Dis (Satan). This is a further progression in Dante’s evaluation of the nature of sin; he also begins to question himself and his own life, realizing his actions and nature could lead him to this permanent torture. 

Sixth Circle of Hell: Heresy

Representing the rejection of religious and political norms, the sixth circle leads Dante to Farinata degli Uberti, a military leader and aristocrat who tried to win the Italian throne and was convicted posthumously of heresy in 1283. Dante also meets Epicurus, Pope Anastasius II, and Emperor Frederick II.

Seventh Circle of Hell: Violence

This is the first circle to be further segmented into sub-circles or rings. There are three of them—the outer, middle, and inner rings—housing different types of violent criminals. The first are those who were violent against people and property, such as Attila the Hun. Centaurs guard this outer ring and shoot its inhabitants with arrows. The middle ring consists of those who commit violence against themselves, such as suicide. These sinners are perpetually eaten by harpies. 

Finally, the inner ring is made up of blasphemers, or those who are violent against God and nature. One of these sinners is Brunetto Latini, a sodomite, who was Dante’s mentor. (Dante speaks kindly to him.) The usurers are also here, as are those who blasphemed not just against God but also the gods, such as Capaneus, who blasphemed against Zeus.

Eighth Circle of Hell: Fraud

This circle is distinguished from its predecessors by being made up of those who consciously and willingly commit fraud. Within the eighth circle is another called the Malebolge (“Evil Pockets”), which houses ten separate bolgias (ditches). These ditches housed different types of people who committed fraud: panderers; seducers; flatterers; simoniacs (those who sell ecclesiastical preferment); sorcerers; barrators (corrupt politicians); schismatics (those who separate religions to form new ones); and alchemists, among others.

Each bolgia is guarded by different demons, and the inhabitants suffer different punishments, such as the simoniacs, who stand head-first in stone bowls and endure flames upon their feet.

Ninth Circle of Hell: Treachery

The ninth circle, the deepest, is where Satan resides. As with the last two circles, this one is further divided, into four rounds. The first is Caina, named after the biblical Cain, who murdered his brother. This round is for traitors to family. The second, Antenora—from Antenor of Troy, who betrayed the Greeks—is reserved for political and national traitors.

The third is Ptolomaea for Ptolemy, son of Abubus, who is known for inviting Simon Maccabaeus and his sons to dinner and then murdering them. This round is for hosts who betray their guests; they are punished more harshly because of the belief that having guests means entering into a voluntary relationship, and betraying a relationship willingly entered is more despicable than betraying a relationship born into. The fourth round is Judecca, after Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ. This round is reserved for traitors to their lords, benefactors, or masters. As in the previous circle, the subdivisions each have their own demons and punishments.

Center of Hell

After making their way through all nine circles of hell, Dante and Virgil reach the center of hell. Here they meet Satan, who is described as a three-headed beast. Each mouth is busy eating a specific person: The left mouth is eating Brutus, the right is eating Cassius, and the center mouth is eating Judas Iscariot. Brutus and Cassius betrayed and caused the murder of Julius Caesar, while Judas did the same to Christ. These are the ultimate sinners, in Dante’s opinion, as they consciously committed acts of treachery against their lords, who were appointed by God.