The Inferno:The Inferno:A Dim and Endless Congress: A Dim and Endless Congress:

Circle One (Limbo)Circle One (Limbo)

FeracoFeracoMyth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

7 November 20127 November 2012

Canto IV: Data FileCanto IV: Data File• Setting: Our first Circle! Circle One: LimboSetting: Our first Circle! Circle One: Limbo• Figures: Homer, Horace, Lucan, Ovid (The Figures: Homer, Horace, Lucan, Ovid (The

Classical Poets), as well as many, many othersClassical Poets), as well as many, many others• Allusions: The Harrowing of HellAllusions: The Harrowing of Hell• Punishable Sin: Paganism*Punishable Sin: Paganism*• Summary: Dante wakes up and glimpses Hell for Summary: Dante wakes up and glimpses Hell for

the first time. As the poets descend into the First the first time. As the poets descend into the First Circle, we’re struck by how peaceful it seems. Circle, we’re struck by how peaceful it seems. Dante meets an overwhelming array of historical Dante meets an overwhelming array of historical figures, and glimpses the astonishing things man figures, and glimpses the astonishing things man can achieve alone…but then is sobered by the can achieve alone…but then is sobered by the realization that these great achievements pale in realization that these great achievements pale in comparison to what is possible through God.comparison to what is possible through God.

LimboLimbo While Limbo already existed within While Limbo already existed within

Christian thought, Dante’s is much more Christian thought, Dante’s is much more densely populated; it essentially houses the densely populated; it essentially houses the “Greats of the B.C. Era.”“Greats of the B.C. Era.”

He includes virtuous non-Christian adults He includes virtuous non-Christian adults in addition to the more-traditional unbaptized in addition to the more-traditional unbaptized infants.infants.

This even included major figures from the This even included major figures from the Hebrew Bible, which medieval Christian Hebrew Bible, which medieval Christian thought held were “liberated” by Christ during thought held were “liberated” by Christ during the Harrowing of Hell.the Harrowing of Hell.

We thus find an astonishing array of We thus find an astonishing array of noteworthy figures here, including many of noteworthy figures here, including many of Rome’s and Greece’s great heroes, thinkers, Rome’s and Greece’s great heroes, thinkers, and artists – and even some medieval non-and artists – and even some medieval non-Christians.Christians.

Harrowing of HellHarrowing of Hell

This refers to Christ’s post-crucifixion This refers to Christ’s post-crucifixion descent into Limbo, when he rescued and descent into Limbo, when he rescued and brought to heaven his “ancestors” from the brought to heaven his “ancestors” from the Hebrew Bible.Hebrew Bible.

(“Harrowing,” in this less-contemporary (“Harrowing,” in this less-contemporary usage, implies a sort of violent abduction.)usage, implies a sort of violent abduction.)

This is only suggested in the Bible, and the This is only suggested in the Bible, and the story appears elsewhere in apocrypha – books story appears elsewhere in apocrypha – books related to but not included in the Bible.related to but not included in the Bible.

That said, it was popular enough to be That said, it was popular enough to be declared church dogma twice (1215 and 1274).declared church dogma twice (1215 and 1274).

Raffa: “Dante’s version emphasizes the Raffa: “Dante’s version emphasizes the power – in both physical and psychological terms power – in both physical and psychological terms – of Christ's raid on hell.”– of Christ's raid on hell.”

Groups Within LimboGroups Within Limbo

Since there are far too many Since there are far too many figures to cite and remember here, we figures to cite and remember here, we won’t focus on all of them; it’s best to won’t focus on all of them; it’s best to take a generalized approach when take a generalized approach when analyzing the fourth Canto.analyzing the fourth Canto.

We can divide the ones we want to We can divide the ones we want to study into different groups: The study into different groups: The Classical Poets, The Heroes and Classical Poets, The Heroes and Heroines (Figures from Trojan/Roman Heroines (Figures from Trojan/Roman Political History), and the Philosophers Political History), and the Philosophers and Thinkers.and Thinkers.

Heroes and HeroinesHeroes and Heroines• Electra: Daughter of Atlas and mother of Dardanus, Electra: Daughter of Atlas and mother of Dardanus,

who’d go on to found Troywho’d go on to found Troy• Hector: Led Trojans against Greeks until Achilles Hector: Led Trojans against Greeks until Achilles

killed himkilled him• Aeneas: He’s the hero of Aeneas: He’s the hero of The AeneidThe Aeneid, escaping Troy as , escaping Troy as

it burned and journeying to Italy (where he’d begin it burned and journeying to Italy (where he’d begin laying the foundation for the Roman Empire). His laying the foundation for the Roman Empire). His bloodline eventually produced Julius Caesar, who bloodline eventually produced Julius Caesar, who Dante considered the first Roman emperor (think Dante considered the first Roman emperor (think Washington)Washington)

• Camilla: A virgin warrior-queen who fought against Camilla: A virgin warrior-queen who fought against the Trojans on Italian soilthe Trojans on Italian soil

• Latinus: The king of the forces who fought the Trojans Latinus: The king of the forces who fought the Trojans on Italian soil, Latinus eventually gave his daughter, on Italian soil, Latinus eventually gave his daughter, Lavinia, to Aeneas in marriage.Lavinia, to Aeneas in marriage.

• Saladin: He’s grouped in with these figures, but he Saladin: He’s grouped in with these figures, but he also stands apart; he’s a distinguished Muslim also stands apart; he’s a distinguished Muslim military leader who was widely respected – even by military leader who was widely respected – even by foes – for his chivalryfoes – for his chivalry

Philosophers and ThinkersPhilosophers and Thinkers

Most of the great thinkers here were Most of the great thinkers here were men whose work largely fit within the men whose work largely fit within the church’s doctrinal framework; they church’s doctrinal framework; they represent the apex of human reason, represent the apex of human reason, Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle in particular.Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle in particular.

Others included Hippocrates, Euclid, Others included Hippocrates, Euclid, and Ptolemy – each of whom would more and Ptolemy – each of whom would more than warrant his own slide, had we the than warrant his own slide, had we the time.time.

But Aristotle is the master of this But Aristotle is the master of this domain, and it is he whom we will study domain, and it is he whom we will study more closely.more closely.

AristotleAristotle

Aristotle commanded tremendous Aristotle commanded tremendous respect in the Middle Ages, so much so respect in the Middle Ages, so much so that he was known simply as “The that he was known simply as “The Philosopher.” (Not bad!)Philosopher.” (Not bad!)

This is why Dante has the other This is why Dante has the other philosophers look up to him.philosophers look up to him.

Aristotle owed his popularity to the Aristotle owed his popularity to the Latin translations of his original Latin translations of his original Greek/Arabic works.Greek/Arabic works.

Others, such as Plato (Aristotle’s Others, such as Plato (Aristotle’s teacher), had only a couple or even none teacher), had only a couple or even none of their works translated.of their works translated.

Aristotle (cont’d)Aristotle (cont’d)

His works covered everything – “the His works covered everything – “the physical universe, biology, politics, physical universe, biology, politics, rhetoric, logic, natural philosophy, rhetoric, logic, natural philosophy, metaphysics, and ethics.”metaphysics, and ethics.”

He also tutored Alexander the Great, He also tutored Alexander the Great, founded his own philosophical school, and founded his own philosophical school, and lent his moral concepts to Dante’s Hell.lent his moral concepts to Dante’s Hell.

Finally, Aristotle was the most Finally, Aristotle was the most important authority for two of Dante’s important authority for two of Dante’s favorite Christian thinkers, Albert the favorite Christian thinkers, Albert the Great and his student Thomas Aquinas.Great and his student Thomas Aquinas.

Both strove to validate the role of Both strove to validate the role of reason and to sharpen its relationship to reason and to sharpen its relationship to faith.faith.

The Classical PoetsThe Classical Poets We see four here: Homer, Horace, Ovid, and We see four here: Homer, Horace, Ovid, and

Lucan; technically, Virgil makes five, and Dante makes Lucan; technically, Virgil makes five, and Dante makes six.six.

Homer leads; he wrote epic poems about the Homer leads; he wrote epic poems about the war between the Greeks and Trojans (war between the Greeks and Trojans (The IliadThe Iliad) and ) and Ulysses’s adventurous return voyage (Ulysses’s adventurous return voyage (The OdysseyThe Odyssey).).

Dante hadn’t read his work (it hadn’t been Dante hadn’t read his work (it hadn’t been translated from Greek yet), but the poet was quite translated from Greek yet), but the poet was quite popular among the writers Dante did read, and he popular among the writers Dante did read, and he gained knowledge of him through a sort of osmosis.gained knowledge of him through a sort of osmosis.

Horace was most famous for his poem about Horace was most famous for his poem about poetry (poetry (Ars Poetica).Ars Poetica).

Ovid’s Ovid’s MetamorphosesMetamorphoses (mythological tales of (mythological tales of transformations, often based on relations between transformations, often based on relations between gods and mortals) and Lucan's gods and mortals) and Lucan's PharsaliaPharsalia (treating the (treating the Roman civil war between Caesar and Pompey) gave Roman civil war between Caesar and Pompey) gave Dante many of his Dante many of his Comedy’sComedy’s non-Virgilean characters non-Virgilean characters and allusions.and allusions.