Dante, Inferno
Antaeus, Bearer of the Travellers
Virgil appeals to Antaeus by recounting his strength and offering the prospect that the living Dante can renew his renown above. He asks the giant to place them in the region of numbing cold. Antaeus grasps Virgil, who draws Dante into his arms so that they form one burden. The giant’s movement becomes the means of descending beyond the well rather than another barrier to travel.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryVirgil appeals to Antaeus by recounting his strength and offering the prospect that the living Dante can renew his renown above. He asks the giant to place them in the region of numbing cold.
Further detail
LiteraryAntaeus grasps Virgil, who draws Dante into his arms so that they form one burden. The giant’s movement becomes the means of descending beyond the well rather than another barrier to travel.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. It describes Dante’s literary vision, distinguishing its assignments and reported claims from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established accounts of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
Came to Antaeus, who, five ells complete Without the head, forth issued from the cave. " Oh, thou, who in the fortunate vale, that made GreatOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 212
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0212
- Original scan leaf
- 219
- Recorded leaf number
- 219
- Current Reader position
- 212
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
both one burden. As appears* The tower of Carisenda, from beneath Where it doth lean, if chance a passing cloud So sail across, that opposite itOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 212
Passage read in the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace-normalised anchor and original-leaf mapping checked. Associated plates separately inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0212
- Original scan leaf
- 219
- Recorded leaf number
- 219
- Current Reader position
- 212
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Ephialtes in Chains
The rebellious giant whose immense strength is confined by a repeated chain.
Shared source pageCocytus, the Frozen Lake
The lake of immobilising cold at the bottom of Dante’s Inferno.
Same subject and traditionCharon, Dante’s Ferryman
The fiery-eyed boatman who gathers the dead at Acheron and objects to Dante’s living presence.
Same subject and traditionChiron among the Armed Centaurs
The centaur who notices the physical evidence that Dante is alive.