Journey Through Dante's Inferno: Circle 1 - Limbo and the Virtuous Pagans
Dante descends into the first circle of Hell, known as Limbo, where he encounters the Virtuous Pagans - those who were born before Christianity or not baptized. Among them is the great poet Virgil, who explains their fate of living without hope. This circle holds esteemed figures like Homer, Plato, and Caesar, devoid of physical punishment but forever separated from God. Children who died unbaptized reside here, as Dante marvels at the illustrious company before moving deeper into the realm of eternal darkness.
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Canto IV Circle 1: Limbo The Virtuous Pagans
Once across the Acheron river, Dante perceives Hell to be in a funnel shape, with the bottom at the Earth s center. Ledges follow the funnel to the bottom, and each of these ledges is referred to as a circle. As the funnel descends, the sins and punishments become more serious.
In the uppermost circle, Dante encounters the virtuous Pagans. This group includes those born before Christianity and those who were not baptized a Christian.
Virgil himself belongs to this circle of Hell, and he explains to Dante, Their merits fail, for they lacked Baptism s grace . . . Their birth fell before the age of Christian mysteries, and so they did not worship God s Trinity in fullest duty.
For such defects we are lost, though spared the fire and suffering Hell in one affliction only: that without hope we live on in desire. What is the only punishment of the Pagans? They suffer no physical punishment. They just live without hope of ever reaching God.
Virtuous Pagans doomed to this fate Homer Plato Caesar Socrates Hector Aeneas
Who would be in Circle 1 today? Children who were born and died before being baptized.
Dante is dazzled by the collection of great men that he encounters in this realm. The poets leave this relative serenity and head into the kingdom of eternal night.
