Dante's History
The poem is allegorical, with multiple meanings. Each episode will cover a canto at a time, summarizing and interpreting the poem based on dozens of commentaries. Check the website for further reading.
Inferno: Canto 29 - The Hospital of Hell
Dante and Virgil enter the tenth and final bolgia of the 8th circle, the circle of fraud, where they encounter the first of the Falsifiers; those who practiced alchemy. We will meet two souls who knew Dante and learn what the poet can tell us about straw-men arguments, misuse of wealth, and how lies create a toxic, viral culture.
Podcast Episodes
Inferno: Canto 8 - The River of Wrath
In this canto, Dante and Virgil travel through the Stygian marsh where they meet another demon ferryman and another damned Florentine citizen. Then when they reach the gates of Dis, the pilgrim is told he must turn back…
Inferno: Canto 7 - The Fools of Fortune
In this canto, the pilgrim and his guide encounter the demon Plutus, god of wealth in the Forth Circle. Here they observe the plight of the Avaricious and Prodigal, those who lust hoard or waste wealth. We'll learn a bit…
Inferno: Canto 6 - The Gluttonous Hog
In this canto, the pilgrim and his guide enter the Circle of the Gluttons and encounter the hound of hell. We meet another former Florentine citizen nicknamed "Hog" and delve deeper into the poet's views on the civil war…
Inferno: Canto 5 - The Birds of Lust
The pilgrim enters the second circle and encounters Minos, judge of the dead. We'll learn about his people the once mythical Minoans. Then the pilgrim learns about two ill-fated lovers and their sin of lust.
Inferno: Canto 4 - The Virtuous Pagans
The pilgrim walks through the first circle of the Inferno; Limbo. We'll get to know Dante's favorite heroes and great thinkers and learn why the poet thinks they belong in Hell.
Inferno: Canto 3 - The Neutral Angels
In this episode the pilgrim reaches the gate of Hell. We'll identify the different entrances to the underworld and learn what the poet thinks of those who remain neutral.
Inferno: Canto 2 - The Ladies of Mercy
In this episode, the pilgrim has second thoughts about his journey into the underworld. We'll learn about Beatrice, the woman who inspired the poet to start a new life.
Inferno: Canto 1 - The Beasts of Florence
In this debut episode of Dante's History, we'll learn a bit about the author Dante Alighieri and his epic poem The Divine Comedy. Then we jump straight into the Inferno Canto 1. The pilgrim is terrorized by three savage…
