The Third Circle: Cerberus and Ciacco

Dante awakens in the third circle, where the gluttonous are punished by a ceaseless rain of hail, snow, and filthy water. The three-headed monster Cerberus barks over the submerged souls, rending and flaying them. Virgil throws handfuls of earth into Cerberus's gullets to quiet him. Among the souls, Dante recognizes the Florentine Ciacco, who sits upright. Ciacco explains that he is punished for gluttony and prophesies the future of Florence: after long contention, the White Guelphs will drive out the Blacks, but within three suns the Blacks will return and oppress the Whites. He names the just as two, but they are not understood. Dante asks about Farinata, Tegghiaio, and other worthy men, and Ciacco tells him they are among the blacker souls in deeper circles. This episode introduces political prophecy and the theme of Florence's internal strife, which will recur throughout the poem.