Changes

[[Image:Gustave_Dore_Inferno1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante lost in the dark forest: ''In the midway of this our mortal life / I found me in a gloomy wood, astray'']]

[[Image:Gustave_Dore_Inferno1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante lost in the dark forest: ''In the midway of this our mortal life / I found me in a gloomy wood, astray'' (Canto I)]]

The '''Inferno''' is the first of the three cantiche in [[Dante]]'s poetic work, ''[[The Divine Comedy]]'', about his imagined trip to [[Hell]] ('Inferno' is the Italian word for 'Hell').  It is very frightening. According to Dante, the inscription at the entrance to Hell reads "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

The '''Inferno''' is the first of the three cantiche in [[Dante]]'s poetic work, ''[[The Divine Comedy]]'', about his imagined trip to [[Hell]] ('Inferno' is the Italian word for 'Hell').  It is very frightening. According to Dante, the inscription at the entrance to Hell reads "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."

The first circle of Hell is [[Limbo]], home to those who led good lives but were not Christians, so cannot enter Heaven. Although it is in Hell, Limbo is relatively pleasant - the only punishment is disappointment and regret. Limbo in the Divine Comedy is analogous to the [[Elysian Fields]] in classical mythology.

The first circle of Hell is [[Limbo]], home to those who led good lives but were not Christians, so cannot enter Heaven. Although it is in Hell, Limbo is relatively pleasant - the only punishment is disappointment and regret. Limbo in the Divine Comedy is analogous to the [[Elysian Fields]] in classical mythology.

[[Image:Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_006.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante and Virgil are ferried across the River [[Styx]], towards the City of Dis: ''And thus the good instructor: "Now, my son, / Draws near the city, that of Dis is named"'' (illustration by Delacroix).]]

[[Image:Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_006.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante and Virgil are ferried across the River [[Styx]], towards the City of Dis: ''And thus the good instructor: "Now, my son, / Draws near the city, that of Dis is named"'' (Canto VIII) (Illustration by Delacroix).]]

===The lesser circles===

===The lesser circles===

===Demons and monsters===

===Demons and monsters===

As well as the shades of humans, Hell is home to a number of supernatural creatures. Some of the punishments are carried out by demons, for example a demon with an enormous sword mutilates the sunderers in the eighth circle. In addition, each circle is guarded by a creature who personifies the sins punished there:

As well as the shades of humans, Hell is home to a number of supernatural creatures. Some of the punishments are carried out by demons, for example a demon with an enormous sword mutilates the sunderers in the eighth circle. In addition, each circle is guarded by a creature who personifies the sins punished there:

[[Image:canino.png|right|thumb|200px|A carving of Cerberus, guardian of the third circle: ''Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange.'']]

[[Image:canino.png|right|thumb|200px|A carving of Cerberus, guardian of the third circle: ''Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange'' (Canto VI)]]

* '''Minos''', mythical king of [[Crete]], guards the second circle (lust). He is depicted as a monstrous creature with a tail, who has the task of assigning new arrivals in Hell to their allotted place.

* '''Minos''', mythical king of [[Crete]], guards the second circle (lust). He is depicted as a monstrous creature with a tail, who has the task of assigning new arrivals in Hell to their allotted place.

* [[Cerberus]] the ravenous three-headed dog guards the third circle (gluttony).

* [[Cerberus]] the ravenous three-headed dog guards the third circle (gluttony).