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''Main article: [[Dante's Purgatorio]]''

''Main article: [[Dante's Purgatorio]]''

They then escape [[Hell]] by going through the center of the Earth and meeting the entrance to [[Purgatory]]. Purgatory follows the medieval [[Catholic]] doctrine which required souls to be cleansed from the minor [[sins]] during their lives with an equal amount of time atoning for them in a like manner. Note that Purgatory and Hell are structured differently: whereas Hell punishes sinners according to the sins they have committed (eg theft), Purgatory cleanses them of the vices that led them to commit those sins (eg greed).

They then escape [[Hell]] by going through the center of the Earth and meeting the entrance to [[Purgatory]]. Purgatory is depicted as an incredibly high mountain on an island in the world's southern hemisphere (note that Dante described a spherical Earth almost 200 years before [[Christopher Columbus]]' voyage).  

Purgatory is depicted as an incredibly high mountain on an island in the world's southern hemisphere (note that Dante described a spherical Earth almost 200 years before [[Christopher Columbus]]' voyage). The mountain is encircled by seven ledges, known as cornices, one for each of the seven cardinal vices:

The mountain is encircled by seven ledges, known as cornices, where each of the [[Seven Deadly Sins]] is cleansed. As Dante goes up the mountain, his own sins are also cleansed to prepare him for his journey into [[Heaven]]. As they travel through Purgatory, Virgil and Dante again meet many historical figures as well as Dante's contemporaries. There are many references to [[Florence]] and other cities in [[Italy]], and he uses the various levels of Purgatory to malign his political foes, and corrupt Church leaders. Classical figures are mainly absent, as their lack of Christian faith prevents them from entering.

| [[Lust]]

These are located above the Sphere of the Air, ie outside the boundaries of Earth proper. However, before they reach the main part of Purgatory, Dante and Virgil have to ascend through Antepurgatory, where men who repented late in life or were excommunicated must wait. After Antepurgatory comes St. Peter’s gate, which is the door to Purgatory; all souls who pass through this door will eventually enter Heaven. As he passes through the gate, Dante is marked on his forehead with seven letter Ps which must be wiped away before he can continue into Paradise. Unlike in Hell, Dante is more than a mere spectator - he takes a participatory role and is cleansed of his own sins.

 

As they travel through Purgatory, Virgil and Dante again meet many historical figures as well as Dante's contemporaries. There are many references to [[Florence]] and other cities in [[Italy]], and he uses the various levels of Purgatory to malign his political foes, and corrupt Church leaders. Classical figures are mainly absent, as their lack of Christian faith prevents them from entering.

At the end of Purgatory before he enters Heaven, Virgil departs and Dante is left to Beatrice as his guide. <ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri,  

At the end of Purgatory before he enters Heaven, Virgil departs and Dante is left to Beatrice as his guide. <ref> [[The Divine Comedy]], By Dante Alighieri,