The document outlines Dante's depiction of hell in his epic poem The Divine Comedy. It is described as consisting of 9 circles descending further into torment. Sinners are punished for different sins in horrible and inventive ways that often relate symbolically to their sins on Earth. The deeper circles inflicting greater suffering are reserved for sins considered more severe such as violence, fraud, and treachery.

1. HILL
THE ABYSS (GerJoli)
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Hell
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2. Circle I (Limbo) Not tortured, but not in heaven
(virtuous pagans, unbaptized)
Circle II (Lustful) Whirlwind
Circle III (Gluttonous) .' 'I , .
Trapped in putrid soil
, "', .
Circle IV (Avariclous and Prodigal) (joint punishment) each of the two
.., i:!' groups completes a semicircle as
. ~,
they roll their weights at each
other
. ,
Circle V (Wrathful and Slothful) (wrathful) Tied up to their waists
in the muddy ground and
constantly tear and mangle each
other
(slothful) the bubbles on the
muddy surface indicate their
presence beneath
Circle VI (Heretics) entombment of their living souls

3. Circle VII (Violence)
Outer Ring - violent against people/property They are drowned in their
victims' blood.
Middle Ring - violent against self (suicides) The sinners are stuck as dead,
black, lifeless trees. The only way
they can speak is through pain,
like getting a branch torn off.
Inner Ring - violent against God and nature All are punished in a desert of
unbearable heat where fire rains
(blasphemers, usurers and homosexuals) from the sky.
Circle VIII (Malegol~)
1. panderers and seducers 6. hypocrites
2. flatterers 7. thieves
3. simon ists 8. deceivers
4. false prophets 9. sowers of discord
5. grafters 10. falsifiers

4. Circle 8
1. Panderers (indulging in immoral desire) and seducers
- They are whipped by devils who lash at them with "cruel
delight", suggesting the devils gain sexual pleasure by inflicting pain.
2. Flatterers
They are sunk in their own excrement. Their excrement symbolizes
what they excreted in life. Since they were full of it, they have to be
sunk in it.
3. Simonists
- They are people who would sell church offices and
sacraments for their own good.
- They are stuck in wells and set on fire.
4. Sorcerers/False prophets
- Their heads are twisted backwards.

5. 5. Grafters
- They are immersed in boiling tar. Their dealings in life
under handed, now must stay under the tar. Their crimes stick to
them just like the tar blackened their reputation.
6. Hypocrites
- They are crushed under lead cloaks. They appear to be
golden on the outside but inside they are corrupt.
7. Thieves
- They are turned into lizards and undergo endless
metamorphosis because they can't distinguish what's "mine" and
what's "yours" after all the transitions.
8. Deceivers
- They are concealed by fire. They robbed others of integrity
when they urged them to practice deceit.

6. Circle IX (Treason)
1. Caina - traitors to the kindred Sinners are stuck in ice up to their
necks, necks are able to move, heads
are allowed to bow.
2. Antenora - traitors to political entities Sinners are stuck in ice up to their
necks however they cannot move their
necks.
Sinners are immediately descended to
3. Ptolomea - traitors to friends/guests hell and then their bodies are run by
demons. These sinners are stuck in
the ice, so only half of their faces
show and there tears freeze their eyes
shut.
The souls are completely covered in
4. Judecca - traitors to lords and masters ice and are stuck in positions, they
cannot move or speak.

7. 9. Sowers of Discord
- They are hacked apart by the devil with a sword.
10. Falsifiers
- They suffer from diseases. Their physical rottenness
symbolizes their corrupt souls.