The bottom of Inferno, at the center of the earth, is where Dante finds Lucifer, or the Devil. As Dante descends down through the circles, the sins, as well as their punishments, get more severe. The descent through these terraces is symbolic of Dante traveling away from the surface and further from the sky, as he confronts the three types of sin: the self-indulgent, the violent, and the malicious.Įach terrace, or circle, contains sinners being eternally punished for a different type of sin. Overall, it resembles an inverted mountain or ziggurat, with its bottom point at the center of the earth. Pictured above, Inferno is composed of nine concentric terraces, each one smaller and lower than the previous one. He meets Virgil, who acts as his guide, and the two begin their descent into Inferno. This is an allegory for his soul, which is lost and seeking salvation. The poem begins with Dante lost in the forest, unable to find his way and fearful of becoming lost forever.
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