Limbo is the first circle of the Inferno proper. Limbo is on the outer boundary of Hell, just across the river Acheron. Here lie those who were not sinful, but did not acquire the proper portal of faith. Dante arrives at the after boarding Charon and taking control of an Asterian Beast. On the opposite side of the Citadel of Limbo is the serpentine King Minos, the Judge of the Damned.
Citadel of Limbo As Virgil leads Dante through Limbo, he takes him to a great citadel. There, Dante witnesses the countless souls who make up the Virtuous Pagans of Limbo.
Within Hell's first circle resides a massive citadel. Within it reside the souls of the virtuous pagans who lived and died before the coming of Christ (Virgil being one of them), and the Unbaptized Babies. Upon leaving Charon's Ferry and reaching Limbo, Dante finds himself upon the outer battlements of this citadel. At the end of the citadel is the Hall of Kings, where those who lived good lives but could not accept Christ remain. Beyond the citadel resides King Minos, judge of the dead.
Hall of Kings Inside the first circle, Dante enters the Hall of Kings. Inside are the virtous pagan shades of famous poets like Homer and Ovid, famous heroes like Hector of Troy, and noble rulers like Caesar and Saladin. Dante comes face to face with Saladin's soul, and remembers why he was fighting in the Crusades. All of the souls in this part of the Inferno are simply statues, however. Beyond this hall lies King Minos' Court.
Minos
King Minos is the temperamental, cynical Judge of the Damned, who resides in the circle of Limbo.
Minos dwells just beyond the Citadel of Limbo. He appears as a half serpent, half human demigod with a large crown on his head. He is also blind, relying on his senses of smell and touch to find his enemies. He judges those who have been damned by picking one person from a wall, smells their sins, and once he decides where they belong, he puts them on his wheel of torture. He then spins it and they are sent to their chosen circle. Dante Alighieri enters Minos' citadel as he sends a Suicidal to his fate. When Dante demands to know where Beatrice was taken, Minos sniffs him, smelling Dante's sins, saying "I smell only a traitor, a glutton...a murderer." Dante defies Minos, telling him to sniff again.
Citadel of Limbo
As Virgil leads Dante through Limbo, he takes him to a great citadel. There, Dante witnesses the countless souls who make up the Virtuous Pagans of Limbo.
Within Hell's first circle resides a massive citadel. Within it reside the souls of the virtuous pagans who lived and died before the coming of Christ (Virgil being one of them), and the Unbaptized Babies. Upon leaving Charon's Ferry and reaching Limbo, Dante finds himself upon the outer battlements of this citadel. At the end of the citadel is the Hall of Kings, where those who lived good lives but could not accept Christ remain. Beyond the citadel resides King Minos, judge of the dead.
Hall of Kings
Inside the first circle, Dante enters the Hall of Kings. Inside are the virtous pagan shades of famous poets like Homer and Ovid, famous heroes like Hector of Troy, and noble rulers like Caesar and Saladin. Dante comes face to face with Saladin's soul, and remembers why he was fighting in the Crusades. All of the souls in this part of the Inferno are simply statues, however. Beyond this hall lies King Minos' Court.
Minos
King Minos is the temperamental, cynical Judge of the Damned, who resides in the circle of Limbo.
Minos dwells just beyond the Citadel of Limbo. He appears as a half serpent, half human demigod with a large crown on his head. He is also blind, relying on his senses of smell and touch to find his enemies. He judges those who have been damned by picking one person from a wall, smells their sins, and once he decides where they belong, he puts them on his wheel of torture. He then spins it and they are sent to their chosen circle. Dante Alighieri enters Minos' citadel as he sends a Suicidal to his fate. When Dante demands to know where Beatrice was taken, Minos sniffs him, smelling Dante's sins, saying "I smell only a traitor, a glutton...a murderer." Dante defies Minos, telling him to sniff again.