Dante, Inferno
Minos, Judge of the Circles
At the second circle Minos examines the arriving souls, hears their confessions and determines the place suited to their transgression. A queue continually presents itself before him. He coils his tail around himself as many times as the number of levels the soul must descend. When Dante approaches, Minos warns him about entry and trust, but Virgil invokes the authority permitting the journey.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryAt the second circle Minos examines the arriving souls, hears their confessions and determines the place suited to their transgression. A queue continually presents itself before him.
Further detail
LiteraryHe coils his tail around himself as many times as the number of levels the soul must descend. When Dante approaches, Minos warns him about entry and trust, but Virgil invokes the authority permitting the journey.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows the exact supplied Thompson & Thomas edition of H. F. Cary’s translation. Figures, places and events belong to Dante’s literary vision; their assigned roles are distinguished from historical biography, other classical traditions and independently established descriptions of an afterlife.
Original passages
Source 1
Dante's Inferno
There Minos stands, Grinning with ghastly feature ; he, of all Who enter, strict examining the crimes, Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath, According as heOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 40
Passage read against the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace normalised and original-leaf mapping checked. Plate art separately visually inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0040
- Original scan leaf
- 47
- Recorded leaf number
- 47
- Current Reader position
- 40
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
with his tail so oft Himself encircles, as degrees beneath He dooms it to descend. Before him stand Always a numerous throng; and in his turnOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 40
Passage read against the exact edition’s extracted canto text; whitespace normalised and original-leaf mapping checked. Plate art separately visually inspected.
- Edition
- IMJ-0082-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0082-E001-P0040
- Original scan leaf
- 47
- Recorded leaf number
- 47
- Current Reader position
- 40
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Antaeus, Bearer of the Travellers
The unfettered giant who lowers Dante and Virgil toward Cocytus.
Same subject and traditionCharon, Dante’s Ferryman
The fiery-eyed boatman who gathers the dead at Acheron and objects to Dante’s living presence.
Same subject and traditionChiron among the Armed Centaurs
The centaur who notices the physical evidence that Dante is alive.
Same subject and traditionEphialtes in Chains
The rebellious giant whose immense strength is confined by a repeated chain.