List of cultural references in the Divine Comedy

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is a long allegorical poem in three parts (or canticas): the Inferno (Hell), (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise), and 100 cantos, with the Inferno having 34, Purgatorio having 33, and Paradiso having 33 cantos. Set at Easter 1300, the poem describes the living poet's journey through hell, purgatory, and paradise.

Throughout the poem, Dante refers to people and events from classical and biblical history and mythology, the history of Christianity, and the Europe of the medieval period up to and including his own day.

For ease of reference, the cantica names are abbreviated to Inf., Purg., and Par. Roman numerals are used to identify cantos and Arabic numerals to identify lines. This means that Inf. X, 123 refers to line 123 in Canto X (or 10) of the Inferno and Par. XXV, 27 refers to line 27 in Canto XXV (or 25) of the Paradiso. The line numbers refer to the original Italian text.

Boldface links indicate that the word or phrase has an entry in the list. Following that link will present that entry.

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Abbagliato: See Spendthrift Club. Abel: Biblical second son of Adam and brother of Cain. Raised by Jesus from Limbo into Paradise. Inf. IV, 56.

Abraham the Patriarch: Important biblical figure. Raised by Jesus from Limbo into Paradise. Inf. IV, 58. Absalom and Ahithophel: Absalom was the rebellious son of King David who was incited by Ahithophel, the king's councilor. Bertran de Born compares his fomenting with the "malicious urgings" of Ahithophel. Inf. XXVIII, 136–138. Achan: Ancient Israelite who stole from Jericho during Joshua's conquest. He was stoned to death for the theft. (Joshua 7:1–26) Cited by souls on the terrace of the greedy as an example of greed. Purg. XX, 109–111. Acheron: The mythological Greek underworld river over which Charon ferried souls of the newly dead into Hades. The "melancholy shore" encountered. Inf. III, 71–78. Formed from the tears of the statue of the Old Man of Crete. Inf. XIV, 94–116. Achilles: The greatest Greek hero in the Trojan War. An account well known in the Middle Ages has him killed by Paris after having been lured with the promise of Priam's daughter Polyxena. Found amongst the sexual sinners. Inf. V, 65. Remembered by Virgil for having been educated by Chiron. Inf. XII, 71. His abandonment of Deidamia and his only son, at the urging of Ulysses, to go to the war against Troy. Inf. XXVI, 61–62. Statius identifies himself in Purgatory as the author of the Achilleid, an unfinished epic poem on the life of Achilles. Purg. XXI, 92. Acre: Ancient city in Western Galilee, it was the last Christian possession in the Holy Land, finally lost in 1291. Inf. XXVII, 86. "Ad vocem tanti senis" ("To the voice of such a great elder") Latin line used to maintain the rhyme scheme with neighboring Latin quotations. Purg. XXX, 18. Adam: According to the Bible, the first man created by God. His "evil seed". Inf. III, 115–117. Our "first parent", raised by Jesus from Limbo into Paradise. Inf. IV, 55. Dante sees the tree in the Garden of Eden which caused the fall of Adam and Eve. (See Genesis 3.) Purg. XXXII, 37–39. Speaks to Dante. Par. XXVI, 103–142 Adam of Brescia: See Master Adam. "Adhaesit pavimento anima mea": ("My soul cleaveth unto the dust.") (Psalm 119:25; 118:25 in the Vulgate.) Recited penitentially by prostrate souls on the terrace of greed in Purgatory. Purg. XIX, 73. Aegina: A Greek island between Attica and Argolis in the Saronic Gulf. According to tradition it was named by its ruler Aeacus—son of Zeus and Aegina, daughter of the river-god Asopus—after his mother. In Ovid's Metamorphoses (VII, 501–660), Aeacus, tells of a terrible plague inflicted by a jealous Juno (Hera), killing everyone on the island but Aeacus; and how he begged Jupiter (Zeus) to give him back his people or take his life as well. Jupiter then turned the islands ants into a race of men called the Myrmidons, some of whom Achilles ultimately led to war against Troy. "... all Aegina's people sick ... when the air was so infected ... received their health again through seed of ants.", compared with "the spirits languishing in scattered heaps" of the tenth Malebolge. Inf. XXIX, 58–65.

Aeneas: Hero of Virgil's epic poem Aeneid, his descent into hell is a primary source for Dante's own journey. Son of Anchises, fled the fall of Troy. Inf. I, 74–75. "Father of Sylvius", journey to Hades, founder of Rome. Inf. II, 13–27. When Dante doubts he has the qualities for his great voyage, he tells Virgil "I am no Aeneas, no Paul". Inf. II, 32 Seen in Limbo. Inf. IV, 122. "Rome's noble seed". Inf. XXVI. 60. Founder of Gaeta. Inf. XXVI, 93. Aeolus: Ruler of the winds in ancient Greek mythology. Purg. XXVIII, 21. Aesop: A semi-legendary Greek fabulist of whom little reliable is known. A famous corpus of fables is traditionally assigned to him. His fable of the frog and the mouse is mentioned. Inf. XXIII, 4–6. Africanus: Agnomen of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236–183 BCE), the Roman general who defeated the Carthaginian general Hannibal in the Second Punic War. His triumphant reception in Rome mentioned. Purg. XXIX, 116. Agathon: Greek poet of the 5th century BCE. Resident of Limbo. Purg. XXII, 107. Agapetus: Pope from 535 to 536. In the Heaven of Mercury, the soul of the Emperor Justinian credits Agapetus with correcting him of heretical beliefs. Par. VI, 13–18. Aglauros: Athenian princess who envied her sister's love affair with Hermes. When she attempted to block Hermes' access, he changed her to stone. Her voice is heard in Purgatory on the terrace of the envious as a lesson in envy. Purg. XIV, 139. Agnus Dei: Liturgical anthem addressed to Jesus as Lamb of God. Sung while the Eucharistic bread is being divided. It ends with "Dona nobis pacem." ("Grant us peace.") Sung by souls in the terrace of the angry in Purgatory. Purg. XVI, 16–21. Ahasuerus: Ancient King of Persia according to the Book of Esther. He married Esther, whose uncle was Mordecai. Haman, the prime minister, became enraged at Mordecai for refusing to bow in his presence. Haman then plotted a pogrom of the Jews in the kingdom. The plot was discovered, and Ahasuerus had Haman executed. Dante has a vision of the execution as he departs the terrace of the angry in Purgatory. Purg. XVII, 25–30. Ahithophel: See Absalom. Cited as his own analogy by Bertran de Born. Inf. XXVIII, 137. Alardo: See Tagliacozzo. Alba: Town in Latium near Rome which founded the Latin League in the early years of Rome. According to the soul of the Emperor Justinian, the eagle of Roman glory rested in Alba for three centuries. Par. VI, 37–39. Albert I of Germany: Roman-German King (1298–1308) from the Habsburg family. He was King during the events of the Comedy. Dante refers to him as German Albert ("Alberto tedesco") and condemns him for failing to come south and curb violent conflict in Italy. Purg. VI, 97–151. Alberto da Casalodi: Guelph count of Brescia, he was Signore of Mantua during the feuding between Guelphs and Ghibellins. He was ousted in 1273 by his advisor Pinamonte dei Bonacolsi. His foolishness ("la mattia da Casalodi") in trusting Pinamonte. Inf. XX, 95–96. Alberto da Siena: See Griffolino of Arezzo. Albertus Magnus (c. 1197–1280): Dominican friar, scholar, and teacher of Thomas Aquinas. Standing to the right of Thomas Aquinas in the sphere of the Sun. Par. X, 98–99. Alcmaeon: Son of Eriphyle, who presumed herself worthy to wear jewelry designed for the gods. Her presumption resulted in her husband's death. Alcmaeon murdered his mother in revenge. Eriphyle is depicted on the pavement in Purgatory as an example of arrogance. Purg. XII, 50. Beatrice cites Alcmaeon's act of murder as a moral failure. Par. IV, 100–105. Tegghiaio Aldobrandi: Florentine son of the famous Aldobrando degli Adimari, he was podestà of Arezzo in 1256 and fought at the battle of Montaperti in 1260, where his warnings against attacking the Senese forces went unheeded, and the Florentines were annihilated. One of a group of famous political Florentines, "who were so worthy ... whose minds bent toward the good", asked about by Dante of Ciacco. Inf. VI, 77–81. One of a group of three Florentine sodomites who approach Dante, and are much esteemed by him (see Jacopo Rusticucci). Inf. XVI, 1–90. Cryptically described as he, "la cui voce nel mondo sù dovria esser gradita" ("whose voice the world above should have valued"), probably an allusion to his councils at Montaperti. Inf. XVI, 40–42. Alecto: see Erinyes. Alexander the Great: King of Macedon (356–323 BCE) and the most successful military commander of ancient history Probably the tyrant pointed out by Nessus. Inf. XII, 107. Apocryphal story of his adventures in India provide a simile for the punishment of the violent against God in Inf. XIV, 31–36. Ali: Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, and one of his first followers. Disputes over Ali's succession as leader of Islam led to the split of Islam into the sects of Sunni and Shi'a. He "walks and weeps" in front of Muhammed. Inf. XXVIII, 31–33. Amphiaraus: Mythical king of Argos and seer, who although he had foreseen his death, was persuaded to join the expedition of the Seven against Thebes. He was killed while fleeing from pursuers, when Zeus threw a thunderbolt, and the earth opened up and swallowed him. The story of his death is told. Inf. XX, 31–39. Anagni: ancient town in central Italy. Birthplace of Pope Boniface VIII. In 1303, Philip IV of France invaded Italy and captured Boniface at Anagni. Purg. XX, 86. Pope Anastasius II: Pope who Dante perhaps mistakenly identified with the emperor Anastasius I and thus condemned to hell as a heretic. Anastasius I was a supporter of Monophysitism, a heresy which denied the dual divine/human nature of Jesus. Dante and Virgil take shelter behind Anastasius' tomb and discuss matters of theology. Inf XI, 4–111. Anaxagoras (c. 500–428 BCE): Greek philosopher. Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 137. Anchises: Father of Aeneas by Aphrodite. In the Aeneid he is shown as dying in Sicily. Father of Aeneas. Inf. I, 74, Purg. XVIII, 137, Par. XIX, 132. Loderingo Andalò (c. 1210–1293): Of a prominent Ghibelline family, he held many civic positions. In 1261 he founded the Knights of Saint Mary or Jovial Friars, a religious order recognized by Pope Clement IV. Its mission was to promote peace between warring municipal factions, but its members soon succumbed to self-interest. Together with Catalano dei Malavolti, he shared the position of governor of Florence. Loderingo is extolled for his fortitude in dying by his friend, the poet Guittone d'Arezzo. Among the hypocrites. Inf. XXIII, 103–109. Andrea de' Mozzi: Chaplain of the popes Alexander IV and Gregory IX, he was made bishop of Florence in 1287 and there remained until 1295, when he was moved to Vicenza, only to die shortly after. One of a group of sodomites identified by Brunetto Latini to Dante. Brunetto (i.e. Dante) blasts him with particular harshness, calling him "tigna". Inf. XV, 110–114. Angiolello di Carignano: See Malatestino. Anglo-Scottish War: the state of endemic conflict between England and Scotland in which neither side could 'remain within their borders'. cited by the Eagle of divine justice as a matter of shame for Christians, Par. XIX, 121–123. Annas: The father-in-law of Caiaphas, he also is called High-Priest. He appears to have been president of the Sanhedrin before which Jesus is said to have been brought. Among the hypocrites, he suffers the same punishment as Caiaphas. Inf. XXIII, 121–122. Antaeus: Son of Neptune and Gaia. A half-giant whose invincible strength came from contact with the earth. Hercules killed him by lifting him from the earth and crushing him. He was seen as a giant not chained in the "Well of the Giants" and lowers Dante and Virgil onto the surface of Cocytus. Inf. XXXI, 112–145.