Florence InfernoFlorence Inferno
Florence Inferno
Symbols and places mentioned in Dan Brown’s novel Inferno, and much more about Florence
FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestYouTubeTumblrTripAdvisor
  • Home
  • The Inferno Guide & Blog
    • Book & Movie
    • Places
    • Symbols
    • Personalities
    • Works of Art
    • Dante & his Work
    • Mystery Stuff
    • Miscellany
    • Events in Florence
  • Walking Tours
    • The Florence Inferno Tour
    • Inferno Package: Hotel & Tour
    • Uffizi & Accademia Tour
    • Fiesole & the Tuscany Hills
    • Photography Workshop & Tour
    • Private Tours
    • Florence Inferno Halloween Tour 2019
  • Interesting Books
  • Audio eBook
  • Map
  • About & Contacts
 
  • Home
  • The Inferno Guide & Blog
    • Book & Movie
    • Places
    • Symbols
    • Personalities
    • Works of Art
    • Dante & his Work
    • Mystery Stuff
    • Miscellany
    • Events in Florence
  • Walking Tours
    • The Florence Inferno Tour
    • Inferno Package: Hotel & Tour
    • Uffizi & Accademia Tour
    • Fiesole & the Tuscany Hills
    • Photography Workshop & Tour
    • Private Tours
    • Florence Inferno Halloween Tour 2019
  • Interesting Books
  • Audio eBook
  • Map
  • About & Contacts

Minos, the Infernal Judge

November 25, 2013Leave a commentInferno's Personalities

Minos is a character partly mythological and partly historical.
Can these two things work together?

He has been handed down by historians as a just and wise king of Crete. For this reason, after his death, he became one of the judges of the underworld.

On the other hand, according to classical mythology, he is the son of the gods Zeus and Europe, and is described as tyrannical and cruel. For example, it is said that to avenge the death of his son at the hands of Athenians, he demanded from them the sacrifice of 7 boys and 7 girls.

Minos is therefore a historical character about whom many ancient witnesses speak, but whose figure was revised from the legend and therefore become symbolic.

He is known to us historically as a priest and legislator that was so wise that his laws were said to have been inspired by Zeus himself.

Homer had already placed Minos as the judge of souls in Hades, but the most famous description is found in Dante‘s Divine Comedy.

Minos in an illustration of the Divine Comedy by Gustave Dorè

Dante was inspired by the poet Virgil in creating his version of Minos.

In the Divine Comedy Minos is located in Hell at the entrance of the second circle because the souls in Limbo, situated in the first circle, have no sins to confess and are not judged.

Dante places him in the fifth canto of the Inferno, and he gives him the appearance of a beast that growls.

In Dante’s vision, Minos is appointed the task of listening to the sins of souls, who reveal everything to the demon. Upon learning their sins, Minos indicates to them their destination in hell by wrapping his serpent tail around his body as many times as the appropriate circle.

A famous representation of Minos that manages to convey the horror of Dante’s description is that of Michelangelo’s Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.

Minos in the fresco by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel

The figure of Minos is emblematic of a process very common and often present in the Divine Comedy: some characters of classical mythology are transformed into demons once assimilated by Christian culture. This was very common in medieval tradition, as it was in the works of Dante.

Pictures by Wikipedia

About the author
Florence Inferno

Florence Inferno

Florence Inferno is a blog about the Florentine mysteries, symbols, and places that are mentioned in Dan Brown’s latest novel Inferno, and much more about the city. We also offer a guided Inferno walking tour, which follows the footsteps of Robert and Sienna, as well as an an eBook with an audio version.

Related posts
Sandro Botticelli self portrait
Sandro Botticelli
March 16, 2019
Lorenzo il Magnifico by Riccardo M
Lorenzo The Magnificent
March 15, 2017
Palazzo Vecchio- soffitto del Salone dei Cinquecento by Francesco Gasparetti
Giorgio Vasari
February 15, 2017
Beatrice and Dante
December 14, 2016
Lorenzo de' Medici ("the Magnificent")
The Medici Family
November 14, 2016
Inferno by Dan Brown
Inferno’s Characters: Sienna Brooks
November 2, 2015
Leave Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

clear formSubmit

The Florence Inferno eBook
A Guide to Florence per Dan's Brown Inferno Discover Dan Brown's Florence on your own with our audio guide and eBook.
Read more »
Stay in Touch
Want to get our posts via email?
By clicking on "Subscribe" you agree to receive our newsletter. Read our privacy policy. If you change your mind you'll find a link to unsubscribe in each email we'll send you.
Blog Categories
  • Dan Brown's Inferno: Book & Movie
  • Dante and His Work
  • Events in Florence
  • Inferno's Personalities
  • Inferno's Places
  • Inferno's Symbols
  • Miscellany
  • Mystery Stuff
  • Works of Art
Blog Topics
Art Artists Baptistry Boboli Gardens Books Bridges Churches Dan Brown Dante Alighieri Districts Divine Comedy Duomo Food Geography History Hotels Inferno's Characters Interviews Istanbul Lifestyle Medici Family Movies Museums Palaces Palazzo Vecchio Parks Santa Maria Novella Sociology Squares Streets Symbology Theology Thinkers Trains Venice
Webinar About Florence

Live webinar to learn about the art, history and architecture of Florence.

» Discover more interactive virtual tours, webinars, and activities all around the world
Search
© 2013-2019 Florence Inferno {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0} • Termetour S.r.l. Via Garibaldi 33, 51016 Montecatini Terme (Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy) • CF / P. IVA (VAT) 01426700470
Cap. soc. 12000€ I.V. • PEC termetour@pec.it • REA PT14851 Aut. N° 22806 del 14.03.2001 • Responsabilità civile degli organizzatori di viaggio (insurance)
704235585 01 SAI Fondiaria S.p.a. • Web design by Simone Montanari. Concept, SEO & web / content marketing by Pasta SEO • Email info@florenceinferno.com

Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
Free blog counters