Dante, Inferno
The Epicureans in Dante’s Cemetery
Virgil identifies one section of the cemetery as belonging to Epicurus and those whom the poem describes as making spirit die with the body. The label explains the setting for the ensuing tomb encounters. The same explanation places future bodily return and closure of the graves against the belief assigned to their inhabitants. The account records Dante’s theological classification, not a complete history of Epicurean philosophy.
Loading your archive…
In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryVirgil identifies one section of the cemetery as belonging to Epicurus and those whom the poem describes as making spirit die with the body. The label explains the setting for the ensuing tomb encounters.
Further detail
LiteraryThe same explanation places future bodily return and closure of the graves against the belief assigned to their inhabitants. The account records Dante’s theological classification, not a complete history of Epicurean philosophy.
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
With Epicurus, all his followers, Who with the body make the spirit die. Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon, Both to the question asked, and toOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 75
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-P0075
- Original scan leaf
- 82
- Recorded leaf number
- 82
- Current Reader position
- 75
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Who with the body make the spirit die. Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon, Both to the question asked, and to the wish Which thou conceal'stOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 75
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-P0075
- Original scan leaf
- 82
- Recorded leaf number
- 82
- Current Reader position
- 75
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
The Burning Sepulchres
The open, heated tombs encountered inside Dis.
Same subject and traditionGolden Outside, Lead Within
The hypocrites’ bright garments conceal a burden that slows every step.
Same subject and traditionThe Condemned Souls’ Distant Knowledge
Farinata’s explanation of foresight combined with ignorance of present events.
Same subject and traditionWrath and Gloom beneath the Water
The fifth circle’s paired expressions of anger and inward gloom.