Dante 700: The story of the Divine Comedy and the circle of hell reserved for certain politicians
IIt’s been over 700 years since its inception, but there really is a hell of a circle reserved for certain politicians. When the Italian poet Dante Alighieri envisioned this ring, he prophesied the demise and damnation of all who have attempted to shatter the peace and harmony of Europe through the ages. He gave us a universal system for judging them and an alternate view that, seen in a particular way, looks shockingly modern.
In his greatest work, the epic poem Divine comedy, Dante not only defines the topography of this place for generations to come, he confines in the deepest trenches of hell liars and promise breakers, traitors and kleptocrats, all who saw opportunity. political and financial issues by sowing discord and fomenting disunity. Anyone who thought conflict was better than peace. If it was written now, it would be obvious who would be there. You know who you are. We know who you are, and what is remarkable about Dante’s magnificent poem is that he did everything for us. You could swap a few names, but the crimes and punishments would be the same.
When Dante died in September 1321 – 700 years ago – he had just completed the work for which he is most remembered. The Divine comedy has since been read and reread, translated and memorized. It is said that Michelangelo Buonarroti had every word of it by heart. His visions of Heaven and Hell entered our subconscious. His tales of tragedy, horror, triumph and bliss – small poems in the longer poem – have inspired other writers, painters and composers for centuries. And Dante’s language, Tuscan, would become the basis of the official modern Italian language. Few writers have had as much breadth and depth of influence over others as Dante.