Dante, Inferno
The Threat of Medusa’s Gaze
The Furies call for Medusa to turn Dante to adamant. Virgil warns that seeing the Gorgon would prevent his return upward, turns him around and places his own hands over Dante’s eyes. The narrative does not describe Dante seeing Medusa. His eyes are released only after a loud disturbance announces the approach of heavenly help.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe Furies call for Medusa to turn Dante to adamant. Virgil warns that seeing the Gorgon would prevent his return upward, turns him around and places his own hands over Dante’s eyes.
Further detail
LiteraryThe narrative does not describe Dante seeing Medusa. His eyes are released only after a loud disturbance announces the approach of heavenly help.
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
Hasten Medusa : so to adamant Him shall we change"; all looking down exclaim'd: " E'en when by Theseus' might assail'd, we took No ill revenge."Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 72
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-P0072
- Original scan leaf
- 79
- Recorded leaf number
- 79
- Current Reader position
- 72
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Mine eyes he loosed, and spake : " And now direct Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam, There, thickest where the smoke ascends." As fro'gsOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 73
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-P0073
- Original scan leaf
- 80
- Recorded leaf number
- 80
- Current Reader position
- 73
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
The Furies on the Burning Tower
Three serpent-haired figures who threaten Dante outside Dis.
Shared source pageThe Heavenly Messenger at Dis
The unnamed emissary who opens the infernal gate without resistance.
Same subject and traditionAgnello’s Merged Form
A man and serpent lose their distinct outlines in the thieves’ ditch.
Same subject and traditionAlichino and Calcabrina’s Quarrel
The failed pursuit that sends two guardians into their own sticky pool.