Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Cocytus - The Ninth Circle

Cocytus, the ninth level of hell, is a huge, frozen lake at the bottom of the Central Pit. It is divided into 4 circles: Caina, Antenora, Ptolomea, and Judecca. Each is named after the four worst traitors in that category. Here are punished the four kinds of traitors: the Treacherous to Kin, Treacherous to Country, Treacherous to Guests and Hosts, and Treacherous to Masters. They are punished by being frozen up to their necks in the first circle (Treacherous to Kin), leaving their heads and faces exposed to the freezing air which grows ever colder towards the center of the lake. Some are completely encased in ice (circle 4 - Treacherous to Masters). The one's whose heads are exposed are allowed to bow their heads and weep in the first circle (Treacherous to Kin), but the tears of their anguish in circle 2 (Treacherous to Country) are frozen as soon as they encounter the cold air because they are unable to bend their necks to shield their faces from the wind. The tears of circle 3 (Treacherous to Guests and Hosts) freeze in the eye socket, and those of circle 4 have their bodies, faces and all, completely covered by ice. At the center of the lake, the three worst traitors suffer the worst punishment by being chewed eternally by Satan himself. Satan is here at the center because he is considered to be the Ultimate Traitor - the angel who rebelled against God Himself.

According to the book, being frozen in ice is likened to the conditions of the individuals heart when alive. These cold-hearted individuals had little or no love in their hearts for either God or mankind, neither did they have the kind of human warmth that allows remorse. In the lake they are allowed this remorse in the first and second circles, with the tears being frozen from the second circle on.

The presence of Satan and the reference to him as "Lucifer", "Beelzebub", and "Great Worm of Evil", etc., are all influenced by Christian doctrine. Also, the first round or circle being named after the first treasonist or traitor to kin, Cain. Round four is named after the disciple who betrayed Jesus, Judas Iscariot. There are other similarities such as Hell itself (also a teaching of Christianity), the punishment of sinners there, and the lightness or severity of the punishment according to sins committed. The Christian Holidays commemorating Jesus death and resurrection, Good Friday and Easter, play a part in the time-line of the story as well.

There is some pagan influence from Greek mythology such as Hell being referred to as the underworld, its different levels of punishment, the worst sinners being punished in the lowest part of hell - a pit, and the similarity of Satan to the three-headed dog Cerberus.

There were about 20 people in all that Dante encounters and recognizes, but the most notable and recognizable to us would probably be Judas Iscariot and Brutus (the best friend (I think) and top general who murdered Julius Caesar). Along with Cassius, they are eternally chewed by the three-headed Satan.

Traitors of our own time who Dante might ascribe to this level of Hell might be liberals (in general) and Nancy Pelosi (if he were conservatively-minded or Republican), Republicans and George Bush (if he were a liberal), Condaleeza Rice (if he were a liberal African American), Saddam Hussein, O.J. Simpson, and John Walker Lindh. Also Adam Yahiye Gadahn who was indicted Oct. 11, 2006 for treason against the U.S. - the first indictment since 1952. If he were to consider the traitors over the last 200 year period he would probably think of Alger Hiss, the Rosenbergs, Confederates (during American Civil War), Benedict Arnold, and Aaron Burr.

10 comments:

Erica said...

Wow! This is a scary circle to even think about! I guess the punishment is suits the crime though. Since the people in this level had a heart of stone (or cold hearted) they deserved to be frozen foreve not able to move.

Curtis said...

that was alot to read but now i understand why you picked that topic. but not being able to move is harsh.

Krista Walley said...

That is a really harsh punishment but you get what you deserve. I think that Judas should have gotten more punishment for denying Jesus. I don't know about the others though. I don't know if it would be worse to burn for eternity or be frozen.

Robin Burkhalter said...

To curtis: Sorry it was so long, but we couldn't possibly leave out all the minute details.

I agree.Dante's idea of hell does sound awfully harsh. The way I look at it, though, is that God just gave these people what they really wanted (they didn't want God or to love). Even though Dante's description is more physical, and the story allegorical, it does fit with the main Christian teaching that people make a choice in this life-time between good and evil, but only after death are actually given the whole package.

Robin Burkhalter said...

To krista: Yeah, Judas was a pretty bad case. It did seem that he tried to repent, though. The question has been for a long time is whether God would have forgiven him. Maybe he (Judas) didn't think he deserved forgiveness, and took justice into his own hands. Who knows. I really feel more sorry for the guy than anything else.

Lindsey said...

This is a cruel place. Strange how hell is ice. But if they are "cold-hearted" then it makes perfect sense. They got what they deserved though. They got what they wanted.

Jennifer Hyatt said...

This is obviously the worst circle to be in! I would hate to have to be punished like this for eternity! I do believe the punishments fit the sin though. They get what they deserve!

stacy said...

This one is horrible! What I don't understand though is that if Satan himself is the worst of all, then what exactly is his punishment? I mean he is continuously chewing certing people but I think he needs the worst punishment of all, and I think it could be worse. I don't know, some of this confuses me at times but I guess I just had hell pictured differently in my mind. Dante gives me a different perspective that I have never thought of.

Daisy said...

This had to be a terrible place to be, to be constantly chewed. I dont think I could imagine the pain. I still have trouble understanding the fact of ice in hell though, I think its kind of contradicting.

cheryl j said...

I enjoyed reading your post; great detail. I think this is the worst sin of all. Judas is the greatest betrayer of all and that his punishment is the worst.