Dante, Inferno
Judecca, the Innermost Ice
The canto’s argument describes the last round as containing betrayers of benefactors. Dante sees enclosed souls in varied positions through the ice, rather than the exposed heads encountered earlier. After the centre has been crossed, Virgil names Judecca as the opposite aspect of the small sphere on which the travellers now stand. The name fixes the location retrospectively within his explanation of their changed orientation.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe canto’s argument describes the last round as containing betrayers of benefactors. Dante sees enclosed souls in varied positions through the ice, rather than the exposed heads encountered earlier.
Further detail
LiteraryAfter the centre has been crossed, Virgil names Judecca as the opposite aspect of the small sphere on which the travellers now stand. The name fixes the location retrospectively within his explanation of their changed orientation.
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
betrayed their benefactors are whoLy covered with ice. And i i the midst is Lucifer, at whose back Dante and Virpl ascend, till by a secretOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 232
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-P0232
- Original scan leaf
- 239
- Recorded leaf number
- 239
- Current Reader position
- 232
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
other aspect is Judecca. Morn Here rises, when there evening sets : and he, Whose shaggy pile we scaled, yet standeth fix'd, As at the first.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 237
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-P0237
- Original scan leaf
- 244
- Recorded leaf number
- 244
- Current Reader position
- 236
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Crossing the Centre of the World
Virgil’s reversal while climbing Lucifer explains the change from descent to ascent.
Shared source pageThe Return to the Stars
The hidden ascent that restores a view of the sky at the close of Inferno.
Shared illustrationLucifer and the Freezing Wings
The immense figure whose wings keep the central lake frozen.
Same subject and traditionAcheron in Dante’s Journey
The river where the arriving dead assemble for Charon’s crossing.