Dante, Inferno
Ptolomea and Premature Descent
The canto’s argument identifies Ptolomea as the third round and associates its inhabitants with betrayal under an appearance of kindness. The travellers find faces whose tears freeze over their eyes. Alberigo explains that a soul can fall here before the ordinary separation of death. He says a fiend then governs the body above until its allotted time is complete.
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In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryThe canto’s argument identifies Ptolomea as the third round and associates its inhabitants with betrayal under an appearance of kindness. The travellers find faces whose tears freeze over their eyes.
Further detail
LiteraryAlberigo explains that a soul can fall here before the ordinary separation of death. He says a fiend then governs the body above until its allotted time is complete.
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
third round, called Ptolomea, wherein those are punished who have betrayed others under the semblance of kindness ; and among these he finds the Friar AlberigoOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 223
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-P0223
- Original scan leaf
- 230
- Recorded leaf number
- 230
- Current Reader position
- 223
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
Such privilege Hath Ptolomea, that oft-times the soul Drops hither, ere by Atropos divorced. And that thou mayst wipe out more willingly The glazed tear-drops thatOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 230
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-P0230
- Original scan leaf
- 237
- Recorded leaf number
- 237
- Current Reader position
- 230
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Alberigo and the Frozen Tears
The speaker who requests relief from the ice over his eyes but does not receive it.
Shared source pageRuggieri in Ugolino’s Accusation
The archbishop named by Ugolino and represented as the pursuer in his prison dream.
Shared source pageThe Tower of Famine
The remembered place of confinement within Ugolino’s speech in the frozen circle.
Shared source pageUgolino’s Account of Hunger
The speaker who pauses his revenge to recount the confinement and deaths of his children.