This circle is separated into three parts: Violence against others, Violence against self, and Violence against God. Those who acted with violence against others are boiled in the river of blood (The Phlegethon). Those who committed suicide, or violence against themselves, are placed as part of the Wood of the Suicides condemned to writhe in eternal pain as gnarled trees. Dante Alighieri and Virgil find Dante's mother Bella Abati in the Woods of Suicide. Finally, those who showed violence against God are placed in the harsh region of the Abominable Sands.
Deep in the Burning Sands on Geryon's Back, Dante Alighieri encounters his former best friend and brother of Beatrice, Francesco, whose death during the Crusades was caused by Dante's doing. Now a horribly disfigured version of his former self, Francesco desires revenge against Dante for leading him astray.
Wood of Suicides
Sinners who take their own lives are condemned by King Minos to the Seventh Circle. The souls are transformed into gnarled, disfigured, and brittle trees which comprise this gruesome forest. Each tree is different, for example, Bella's tree has vine wrapped around her neck like a noose, representing how she took her life. Each tree is a twisted version of their own suicide. The trees produce Suicide Fruit that causes thoughts of suicide on humans like Dante. If he is unable to resist the effects of the fruit, he will commit suicide by stabbing himself with his cross.
Harpies torment the souls by breaking branches and snapping limbs, only to have them grow back again.
The forest was where not only the suicides were condemned, but also the prolifigates (those who forsook the value of their own goods, much like how the suicides forsook the value of their own bodies) who are chased by dogs through the forest.
This scorching hot desert is home to those who acted with violence against God. Filled with the ruins of palaces and cities, Damned Crusaders wander aimlessly throughout the region. Sandstorms blow while smoldering ashes rain from the sky. At the end of this wasteland is Francesco, who waits for his revenge against Dante on the back of Geryon.
A desert of burning sands, with fire raining from above. Upon these sands, are punished the three types of sinners who've commited violence against God: those who commited violence against nature (Sodomites), violence against order (Userers) and violence directly against God (Blasphemers).
Deep in the Burning Sands on Geryon's Back, Dante Alighieri encounters his former best friend and brother of Beatrice, Francesco, whose death during the Crusades was caused by Dante's doing. Now a horribly disfigured version of his former self, Francesco desires revenge against Dante for leading him astray.
Wood of Suicides
Sinners who take their own lives are condemned by King Minos to the Seventh Circle. The souls are transformed into gnarled, disfigured, and brittle trees which comprise this gruesome forest. Each tree is different, for example, Bella's tree has vine wrapped around her neck like a noose, representing how she took her life. Each tree is a twisted version of their own suicide. The trees produce Suicide Fruit that causes thoughts of suicide on humans like Dante. If he is unable to resist the effects of the fruit, he will commit suicide by stabbing himself with his cross.
Harpies torment the souls by breaking branches and snapping limbs, only to have them grow back again.
The forest was where not only the suicides were condemned, but also the prolifigates (those who forsook the value of their own goods, much like how the suicides forsook the value of their own bodies) who are chased by dogs through the forest.
This scorching hot desert is home to those who acted with violence against God. Filled with the ruins of palaces and cities, Damned Crusaders wander aimlessly throughout the region. Sandstorms blow while smoldering ashes rain from the sky. At the end of this wasteland is Francesco, who waits for his revenge against Dante on the back of Geryon.
A desert of burning sands, with fire raining from above. Upon these sands, are punished the three types of sinners who've commited violence against God: those who commited violence against nature (Sodomites), violence against order (Userers) and violence directly against God (Blasphemers).