“INFERNO”

By: Dante Alighieri

CANTO III
 Summary
■ In Canto III Dante begins his journey into hell,
lead by Virgil. They enter the gates and Dante
hears the screams inside. Virgil begins the
journey by telling Dante that the screams he
hears is the souls of those who did not choose
between good or evil. These souls have been
denied entry into both heaven and hell. These
souls chase a banner and are bit by wasps and
flies. This is where Dante sees Pope Celestine V.
Because these souls did not choose a side in life,
they cannot rest in death. The neutral angels,
who did not choose between God or Satan in the
war in Heaven are also in this area.
 Summary
■ They reach the river Acheron, the border of
Hell. A boat approaches to take the newly
dead souls across the river. This boat is
guided by Charon. Charon knows that Dante
is a living soul and tells him to stay away
from the dead. Virgil tells Charon that the
journey is directed from the heavens. After
this he says no more and brings the couple
across the river. Virgil explains to Dante that
only the souls meant to be in hell cross the
river. As they are crossing an earthquake
shakes the ground and Dante faints in terror.
Charon
■ An old man who
ferries souls across
the river Acheron. He
only allows the dead
who are buried or
burned with the
proper rights who
carry a coin to cross.
Those who cannot
afford the passage
must wander the bank
of the river Styx for
100 years.
Gates of Hell
■ This picture is
Auguste Rodin’s
depiction of the
Gates of Hell.
There are scenes
from the Inferno
depicted on the
doors.
 The River Acheron
■ The River
Acheron that
runs through
Greece. Other
than being a
river in the
underworld, it
was also
considered to be
the River of
Pain.
 Location
 In this Canto the  This is within the
sinners are those gates of hell but
who did not choose not considered a
between good and part of hell.
evil, Heaven and
Hell.
 Right past this
 The sinners who did area is the
not choose are beginning of the
punished by first circle where
constantly running limbo begins.
after a banner, while
flies and wasps
constantly bite them.