Dante, Inferno
The Burning Sepulchres
Beyond the gate lies a field of sepulchres surrounded by flames. Their raised lids allow the travellers to hear lamentation and approach the occupants; Virgil says that like groups are buried together with differing degrees of heat. In the next canto he explains that the lids will close when the souls return with their bodies after judgement. Their present openness permits Dante’s conversations with Farinata and Cavalcante.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryBeyond the gate lies a field of sepulchres surrounded by flames. Their raised lids allow the travellers to hear lamentation and approach the occupants; Virgil says that like groups are buried together with differing degrees of heat.
Further detail
LiteraryIn the next canto he explains that the lids will close when the souls return with their bodies after judgement. Their present openness permits Dante’s conversations with Farinata and Cavalcante.
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
graves were scatter'd flames, Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn'd, That iron for no craft there hotter needs. Their lids all hung suspended ; and beneath,Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 74
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-P0074
- Original scan leaf
- 81
- Recorded leaf number
- 81
- Current Reader position
- 74
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
They shall be closed all, what time they here From Josaphat return'd shall come, and bring Their bodies, which above they now have left, The cemeteryOpen 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 Epicureans in Dante’s Cemetery
The group defined in the poem by the belief that spirit dies with the body.
Same subject and traditionAcheron in Dante’s Journey
The river where the arriving dead assemble for Charon’s crossing.
Same subject and traditionAntenora, the Second Frozen Round
The part of the ice where the encounter with Bocca leads to accusations of betrayal.
Same subject and traditionCaina, the First Frozen Round
The first division of the frozen circle, introduced through entangled family figures.