People to Know Flashcards
(36 cards)
Theodric
the Ostrogothic king of Italy, significantly impacted Rome by maintaining its Roman administrative structure and promoting a culture of learning, while his relationship with Boethius, a prominent Roman philosopher, initially saw him elevate Boethius to a high position within his court, but ultimately ended with Boethius’ imprisonment and execution on charges of treason, likely due to political suspicions and religious differences between the Arian Christian Theodoric and the Catholic Boethius.
Boethius
A man of public office but also a philosopher and poet. He could do everything he translated all of plato and Aristotle from Greek to Latin.
Justinian
Justinian I was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565.
Lady Philosophy
a benevolent female teacher, part human and part divine, who embodies the wisdom of Ancient Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle. Both Human and divine polymorphic, two natures
Pope John the First
Close with Boethius. Negotiated with the Ostrogoth King Theoderic to improve treatment for Arians
Was imprisoned by Theoderic for allegedly conspiring with Constantinople
Died from neglect and ill-treatment
Dante
Italian poet writer philosopher wrote the divine comedy
Virgil
Poet of Rome and Italy is featured in the Divine Comedy and wrote the Aeneid
Beatrice
Her name is Beata Ebella her Identity is Blessed and Beautiful. She is a woman Dante fell for and made her the driving reason that he goes through the divine comedy.
Francesca da Rimini
Francesca was an Italian noblewoman from Ravenna. She was the daughter of Guido da Polenta, the lord of Ravenna. She had a tyrant husband and fell in love with his younger brother. She gets sent to the 2nd circle of hell for lust.
Paolo Malatesta
Francesca’s lover
Pier Della Vigne
He was a trusted advisor to Frederick II but was wrongly accused of plotting against the emperor. He committed suicide after being imprisoned and blinded. He’s sent to the second ring of the seventh circle for suicide.
Ciacco
A Florentine man who tells Dante about the political strife between the Guelphs and Ghibellines in Florence.
Found in the third circle of hell for gluttony
His nickname means “hog”
A character with a similar name appears in Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron
Dante’s depiction of Ciacco explores the politics of Florence, which led to Dante’s exile from the city
Filippo Argenti
A wrathful sinner who accosts Dante while he is crossing the Styx. . He was known for his violent temper and was involved in the political conflicts of Dante’s time. He latches onto Phlegyas’ boat, but Virgil shoves him back into the Styx’s waters, where he bites himself and fights with other wrathful souls.
Farinata
Farinata appears rising from his tomb in the 6th circle for herecy like a mighty figure, showing his pride and disdain even in damnation. He is a Ghibelline warlord. He is condemned for his Epicurean beliefs, meaning he denied the immortality of the soul. Despite his punishment, he still possesses a commanding presence, emphasizing his noble yet tragic defiance.
Cavalcante dei Cavalcanti
The father of one of Dante’s friends who is in the sixth circle of hell for herecy, he asks Dante about his son Guido Cavalcanti. He is boastful of his son and thinks he should be there instead of Dante because his son is also a poet
Capaneus
Taken from Greek mythology, Capaneus is a giant man who Dante sees lying in the burning desert of the seventh circle 3rd trench of hell. He is a blasphemer. Capaneus scorned God and still tries to defy him in hell.
Brunetto Latini
Dante’s former teacher, whom he encounters in the seventh circle of hell among the Sodomites. Latini asks Dante to remember his literary work, the Thesaurus, in the hopes that he can live on through his work.
Pope Nicholas III
Dante encounters Pope Nicholas in the third trench of the eighth circle of hell, where he is punished for Simony by having his head stuck in a hole. He says that his successor, Pope Boniface, will soon join him there, and predicts that Boniface’s successor will be evil.
This is a commentary on Dante’s distain for the popes and churches stealing money from the people.
Catalano and Loderingo
Found in the 6th trench of the 8th circle for hypocrisy. They were members of the Order of the Jovial Friars (Frati Gaudenti), a religious order that was supposed to maintain peace but became infamous for corruption and political self-interest.
Dante criticizes them because they were appointed as neutral governors of Florence but instead acted in a biased and self-serving manner, favoring their own interests rather than true justice
Caiaphas
Caiaphas instigated the crucifixion of Jesus and is punished in the eighth circle’s sixth trench by being crucified on the ground, where other souls walk on top of him.
Vanni Fucci
Dante sees Vanni in the seventh trench of the eighth circle of hell for thieves. Vanni is struck by a serpent and burns to ashes. His ashes, though, are immediately reconstituted into his body. Dante talks with Vanni, but then Vanni curses God, which disgusts Dante.
Pier da Medicina
He is condemned to the Eighth Circle of Hell, in the Ninth Bolgia, where the Sowers of Discord are punished. These sinners are physically mutilated in Hell, their bodies repeatedly torn apart because, in life, they caused division among people, families, or political factions.
Pier da Medicina was a political schemer from Romagna who incited conflict and discord between various factions and noble families.
Curio
Pier da Medicina points out Curio to Dante in the ninth trench of the eighth circle of hell. Curio caused civil strife in ancient Rome, instigating the civil war between Caesar and Pompey.
Mosca
Pier da Medicina also shows Dante Mosca, who spread civil discord throughout Tuscany.
