Dante's Inferno - 1st Circle of Hell - Limbo

By Crusader1307

 The main premise of 14th Century Italian Writer Dante Alighieri's Treatsie-Novel ''The Divine Comedy'' was a ''Journey'' into Hell, experienced by several well known ''real'' and ''imagined'' characters. And while the story was seen as a political ''attack'' against Government graft and corruption by both The Italian Royal and The Catholic Church, ''The Inferno'' (as it later became known as), served as a major component into Medieval conceptions regarding Lucifer and Hell. Hell, it seems – is styled into 9 Sections or ''Circles'' Each Circle is populated by those Souls so damned in Life, to suffer a particular recurring vice for all Eternity. Guarded by Legions of Demons, commanded by a Satanic Hierarchy, The Reader goes thru each successive Level which is established by allegory or a cautionary Tale. In addition, each Circle has sub-sections designed to exploit particular vices and punishments or specialized ''zones.

The 1st Circle of Hell is also known as ''Limbo''. As we have discussed, ''Limbo'' is another term for Purgatory and depending on your belief system – this was seen as a form of ''Hell'' in The Middle Ages. A ''Land'' of perpetual twilight of neither ''light nor dark'', The 1st Circle is reserved for unbaptized infants and Pagans (non-Christians). For Babies, it was seen as no ''fault'' of their own that they warranted Limbo and for Pagans, their ''ignorance'' of a Christian God brought them to that ''place''. This was the common thinking of The Era, and used excessively in Medieval Literature as a ''cautionary tale''. The Reader enters a Region of confusion and want. In some beliefs – the death of Jesus Christ allowed for the overall ''redemption'' of these Souls, gathering them ''up into Heaven's Grace''. In other forms, such ''poor souls'' will suffer for Eternity as a result.

Many ''Great Castles'' dot The 1st Circle landscape, all serving as the ''living quarters'' for such Souls. Early Western Biblical Heroes resided their, such as Moses, Elijah and others. Dante also places great Warriors there of a non-Christian background, such as Saladin, Mohammad, etc. There is no excess of luxury, but food and drink are not missing. In fact, only The Gates of The 1st Circle (which is in fact a circular ditch upon which the center ''Land'' is Limbo) – are only lightly Guarded by ''young and inexperienced'' Demons. Escape is not seen as critical, whereas it was thought that AFTER Christ – most of these Souls could be released thru Prayer and Acceptance of The Christian God.