The Punishment of the Giants and the Descent to Cocytus

Dante's encounter with the giants who guard the well to the ninth circle, and the descent into the frozen lake.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Sound of the Horn

The Blast The Horn of Nimrod Dante hears a loud horn and sees what appear to be towers. Virgil explains they are giants standing in the well. The first is Nimrod, who babbles incomprehensibly. The Punishment Nimrod, who built the Tower of Babel, is punished by having no intelligible language. His horn symbolizes his pride.

Ephialtes and Briareus

The Bound Giants Ephialtes Ephialtes, who tried to storm Olympus, is bound in chains. He shakes himself in rage, causing Dante to fear. Virgil explains that he is one of the giants who warred against the gods. Briareus Virgil mentions Briareus, who is farther away and similarly bound. These giants represent the sin of pride and rebellion against divine order.

Antaeus Lifts Them Down

The Descent The Unbound Giant Antaeus, who is not bound and can speak, is asked by Virgil to lower them to the bottom of the well. He agrees, hoping for fame. The Ride Antaeus takes them in his hands and places them gently on the ice of Cocytus. This is the final descent into the deepest part of Hell.

The Frozen Lake

The Ice The Traitors Dante sees a frozen lake with souls immersed in ice. They are traitors, punished by the cold that reflects their loveless hearts. The Four Rounds The lake is divided into four rounds: Caina (traitors to kin), Antenora (traitors to country), Ptolomaea (traitors to guests), and Judecca (traitors to lords). Each round has increasing degrees of cold and immersion.

Lucifer at the Center

The Emperor of the Universe of Pain The Three Faces Lucifer is a giant with three faces, each a different color. He chews three traitors: Judas, Brutus, and Cassius. His wings beat, freezing the lake. The Ascent Virgil carries Dante down Lucifer's body to the center of the earth, then they climb up to the southern hemisphere, emerging to see the stars.

At the edge of the well, before the ninth circle

After Nimrod, at the edge of the well

After Ephialtes, at the edge of the well

At the bottom of the well, in the ninth circle

At the center of the ninth circle