Circle 2: The Lustful
Canto V
SINS OF THE WOLF: INCONTINENCE
Notable People/Things
- Paolo & Francesca
- Minos
Minos:
Minos is the beast judge of Dante's Hell. In mythology he was a wise,
though stubborn judge, but Dante twists his form into the shape of a bull. He now
has a tail, which he uses to judge the sinners.
Sinners entering hell appear before Minos, tell him what they have done, and
he assigns them their proper place in one of Hell's circles by the number of
times he winds his long tail around his body.
The Lustful:
Their punishment is to be whirled around forever in a gale (wind).
Paolo and Francesca (a married woman) were lovers while they lived.
Their contrapasso
is to be stuck together forever in the act of making love without
satisfaction—their sinful pleasure in life is now their torchure.
Go on to the next circle
Back to Dante Page
home
