Swindles and Vengeance

Posted by Unknown in on -

I think what I'm enjoying most about The Inferno is how the author infuses mythology into his epic poem. In the assigned Cantos, I was especially entertained by Canto VII. The punishment of the Hoarders and Wasters, which is pushing boulders, reminded me a similar story about a Greek figure, Sisyphus. 


Let me share his story.

According to legend, Sisyphus, the founder and king of Corinth, stays in Tartarus, rolling a boulder up a hill then watching it roll back down forever. Why? Because he's "the number-one expert on cheating death." (As stated by Nico di Angelo) Known for being very cunning, he cheated death by handcuffing Hades with the King of Underworld's own handcuffs. (In some legends, Thanatos, the god of death.) As a result, nobody could die. Eventually, Hades was released and Sisyphus was ordered to come to the Underworld. But, he came up with another scheme. He told his wife not to bury him then made a fuss about not receiving the proper burial rites to Persephone. The Queen of the Dead allowed him to ascend back to earth where he failed to acquire the proper rites. He could not stop the inevitable though. After some time, he was captured and brought to the Underworld to be eternally punished. 

Other than that, I really find it funny how Dante somewhat takes his "revenge" on his enemies. That is by putting them in Hell. He puts his political foe, Filippo Argenti in the fifth circle. Also if you look at Canto III, you notice that a Pope Celestine V resides there. I don't think that Dante likes him very much because he indirectly caused the many bad things that happened to Florence, the poet's hometown. 

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