Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Inferno
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
Painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau showing Dante and Virgil watching two nude men fighting violently in a hellish landscape, with demons in the background. Gustave Doré: Dante lost in a dark wood before entering Hell Watercolor by William Blake showing Dante and Virgil meeting Francesca da Rimini and Paolo in the Circle of the Lustful, with swirling figures swept by wind and a glowing figure above. Gustave Doré: Dante, guided by Virgil, observes those guilty of simony in the eighth circle of Hell Gustave Doré: Dante and Virgil in Hell Illustration of Beatrice and Virgil Gustave Doré: Charon rowing to collect Dante and Virgil to carry them across the Styx Engraving by Gustave Dore showing Virgil guiding Dante as they look upon writhing, anguished souls struggling in the waters of the River Styx, with rocky cliffs in the background. Engraving by Gustave Dore showing Dante and Virgil standing on a rocky ledge, surrounded by winged demons in the eighth circle of Hell from the Divine Comedy. Gustave Doré: Thieves being tormented by serpents in the eighth circle of Hell
Related Questions

Inferno: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • René Ostberg
    René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. 
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Invalidated site: Internet Archive - "Inferno". Sep 15, 2026
Add new Web site: BBC - Beyond Belief - Dante's Inferno. May 11, 2026
Added top questions. Dec 30, 2025
Add new Web site: Internet Archive - "Inferno". Sep 26, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Central Florida Pressbooks - Introduction to World Literature Anthology - From The Divine Comedy Inferno, Dante Alighieri -. Aug 02, 2025
Clarified that Dante's journey as described in the first paragraph is the plot of The Divine Comedy, not just the Inferno. May 08, 2025
Slideshow added. Mar 24, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - Dante's Inferno: Critical Reception and Influence (PDF). Feb 13, 2025
Added cross-references. Nov 26, 2024
New article added. Aug 19, 2024
View Changes:
Article History
Revised:
By: