The Punishment of the Lustful in Purgatory
The Divine ComedyThe purgation of lust on the seventh terrace, where souls walk through a wall of fire, purifying their desires.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingThe Wall of Fire
The Flaming Path
The Fire
The seventh terrace is a wall of fire that burns the souls as they walk through it. They sing hymns and shout examples of chastity.
The Purpose
The fire purges the lustful of their disordered desires. It is the final purification before entering the Earthly Paradise.
The Two Groups
The Opposite Processions
The Sodomites
One group of souls walks in one direction, shouting 'Sodom and Gomorrah.' They are those who committed homosexual acts.
The Hermaphrodites
The other group walks in the opposite direction, shouting 'Pasiphae enters the cow.' They are those who engaged in heterosexual excess. They kiss briefly as they pass.
Guido Guinizelli and Arnaldo Daniello
The Poets in the Fire
The Father of Poetry
Dante meets Guido Guinizelli, who is in the fire for lust. Dante expresses his deep admiration. Guinizelli points to Arnaldo Daniello as a better poet.
The Provencal Poet
Arnaldo speaks in Provencal, asking for prayers. Both poets are purging their sexual sins, showing that even great artists are not immune.
The Examples of Chastity
The Scourges
The Voices
The souls shout examples of chastity: the Virgin Mary ('Virum non cognosco'), Diana driving away Helice, and faithful wives and husbands.
The Curb
They also recall examples of lust punished: Sodom and Gomorrah, and Pasiphae. These serve as warnings.
The Angel of Chastity
The Exit
The Angel
An angel appears outside the fire, singing 'Beati mundo corde' (Blessed are the pure in heart). He invites them to enter the Earthly Paradise.
The Final P
Dante passes through the fire, and the last P is removed. He is now purified and ready to ascend to the Earthly Paradise.
On the seventh terrace of Purgatory
On the seventh terrace, during the walk
On the seventh terrace, during the encounter
On the seventh terrace, during the walk
At the end of the seventh terrace
