Dante, Inferno
Cocytus, the Frozen Lake
Virgil names Cocytus while requesting passage from Antaeus. The next canto brings the travellers onto its frozen surface beneath the giants’ feet. The ice appears more like glass than water and surpasses the narrator’s comparisons with frozen northern rivers. Inhabitants emerge only partly from it, with cold shaping their posture, teeth and tears.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryVirgil names Cocytus while requesting passage from Antaeus. The next canto brings the travellers onto its frozen surface beneath the giants’ feet.
Further detail
LiteraryThe ice appears more like glass than water and surpasses the narrator’s comparisons with frozen northern rivers. Inhabitants emerge only partly from it, with cold shaping their posture, teeth and tears.
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
Locks up Cocytus. Force not that we crave Or Tityus' help or Typhon's. Here is one Can give what in this realm ye covet. Stoop Therefore,Open 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
A lake, whose frozen surface liker seem'd To glass than water. Not so thick a veil In winter e'er hath Austrian Danube spread O'er his stillOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 217
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-P0217
- Original scan leaf
- 224
- Recorded leaf number
- 224
- Current Reader position
- 217
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Caina, the First Frozen Round
The first division of the frozen circle, introduced through entangled family figures.
Shared source pageAntaeus, Bearer of the Travellers
The unfettered giant who lowers Dante and Virgil toward Cocytus.
Shared source pageEphialtes in Chains
The rebellious giant whose immense strength is confined by a repeated chain.
Same subject and traditionAcheron in Dante’s Journey
The river where the arriving dead assemble for Charon’s crossing.