D ANTE ’ S I NFERNO The Circles of Hell

A CTIVATOR : P ERSONAL C ONNECTION INSTRUCTIONS: You have received nine post-it notes that you should number 1-9. Around the room are nine different sins/evils that humans are punished for in Dante’s fictional depiction of Hell, called the “Inferno.” Walk around the classroom and place a post-it note on each poster. Number 9 should be what you consider the worst sin/the most evil, and number 1 should be what you consider the least evil. Once you have used all of your post-its, sit back down and explain your reasoning behind your #1(least evil) and #9(most evil) choices.

A NTE -I NFERNO AND C IRCLES 1-2 The Ante-Inferno: The Indecisive The souls of those who did not commit to either good or evil dwell in the entrance to Hell. Both Heaven and Hell have denied them entry. Punishment: Constantly chasing a blank banner, and are continually bitten by flies and wasps. Circle 1: Limbo This is where souls who never knew Christ exist. This includes those who were born pre-Christ, and babies who were not baptized at birth. Circle 2: Lust These souls committed sins of the flesh. Punishment: Torrential rains always fall and gales of wind tear through the air. The souls of the damned swirl about in the wind, swept helplessly through the air.

C IRCLES 3-4 Circle 3: Gluttony The souls of those who over-indulge, typically in food and/or drink. Punishment: Rain that consists of filth and excrement falls ceaselessly, and a horrific stench fills the air. These souls must lie on the ground as the sewage rains down upon them. Circle 4: Greed This is where souls who during their lives, hoarded and squandered their money. Punishment: In a ring-shaped ditch around the circle, two groups of souls push weights along. Each group completes a semicircle before crashing into the other group and then turning around. The souls are condemned to this jousting match for eternity.

C IRCLES 5-6 Circle 5: Wrath The souls of those who were consumed with anger during their lives. Punishment: The souls forever crouch on the bank of the river Styx, covered in mud, and striking and biting at each other. Circle 6: Heresy The souls of those who rejected Christianity. Punishment: The tombs of these souls are on fire, glowing with fierce hot flames.

C IRCLE 7 Circle 7: Violence Contains those who are violent, subdivided into three smaller circles: violence against one’s neighbor, against oneself, and against God. Punishment of Level 1: In a river of blood: the sinners boil and a group of Centaurs sit on the bank and shoot at any soul that tries to raise itself out of the river. Punishment of Level 2: Those who committed suicide and squandered their possession have been transformed into trees. The trees are black and gnarled and experience pain when a branch is broken. Punishment of Level 3: Three zones: the Blasphemers, the Sodomites, and the Usurers. Fire rains down upon them for eternity.

C IRCLES 8-9 Circle 8: Fraud Made up of those who consciously and willingly commit fraud, like thieves, hypocrites, corrupt politicians, counterfeiters, false prophets, and impersonators. Punishment: Each soul is in a ditch guarded by different demons, and the inhabitants suffer different punishments, such as feet enduring flames for eternity. Circle 9: Treachery Divided into four zones of different types of traitors: family traitors, political/national traitors, guest traitors, and lord/master traitors. Punishments: Most of the punishments deal with ice—it is frigid cold in this circle. Some are frozen in lakes, others are gnawing on each other’s heads. This is where Satan resides because he is the ultimate betrayer—he betrayed God.