The Punishment of the Avaricious in Purgatory
The Divine ComedyThe purgation of avarice on the fifth terrace, where souls lie prostrate on the ground, weeping and reciting examples of poverty.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingThe Prostrate Souls
The Face-Down Penance
The Position
The avaricious lie face down on the ground, weeping. They cannot move. Their eyes are fixed on the earth, reflecting their earthly attachment.
The Prayer
They recite 'Adhaesit pavimento anima mea' (My soul cleaves to the dust). This is a plea for detachment from material things.
Pope Adrian V
The Humble Pope
The Confession
Pope Adrian V, who was pope for only a month, confesses that he was avaricious. He discovered the vanity of worldly power only after becoming pope.
The Lesson
He tells Dante that avarice is the worst sin on the mountain. He asks Dante to pray for his grandchild Alagia, who is good.
Hugh Capet's Lament
The Root of Evil
The French Dynasty
Hugh Capet, founder of the Capetian line, laments the avarice and corruption of his descendants. He recounts the crimes of the French kings.
The Prophecy
He prophesies the coming of a new Charles (Charles of Valois) who will bring ruin to Florence, and the abduction of Pope Boniface VIII by Philip the Fair. He cries for vengeance.
The Examples of Poverty
The Scourges
The Voices
During the day, the souls recite examples of holy poverty: the Virgin Mary's humility, Fabricius's virtue, and St. Nicholas's generosity.
The Curb
At night, they recite examples of avarice punished: Pygmalion, Midas, Achan, Sapphira, Heliodorus, and Crassus. These stories remind them of the consequences of greed.
The Earthquake and the Cry
The Trembling Mountain
The Earthquake
The mountain trembles, and all souls cry 'Gloria in excelsis Deo.' Virgil explains that an earthquake occurs when a soul is purified and ready to ascend.
Statius's Release
Statius, who has been on the fifth terrace for over 500 years, is now free. He joins Dante and Virgil, and they continue upward.
On the fifth terrace of Purgatory
On the fifth terrace, during the encounter
On the fifth terrace, after Adrian
On the fifth terrace, during the day
On the fifth terrace, during the encounter
