Dante, Inferno
The Stygian Lake
A stream of inky water expands beneath grey cliffs into the Stygian lake. Dante sees angry figures fighting in the mire and learns that another company lies below its surface. The travellers skirt part of the shore before a signal summons Phlegyas’s boat. The lake subsequently serves as the route toward the fortified entrance of Dis.
Loading your archive…
In the sources
The encounter
LiteraryA stream of inky water expands beneath grey cliffs into the Stygian lake. Dante sees angry figures fighting in the mire and learns that another company lies below its surface.
Further detail
LiteraryThe travellers skirt part of the shore before a signal summons Phlegyas’s boat. The lake subsequently serves as the route toward the fortified entrance of Dis.
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
the Stygian named, expands The dismal stream, when it has reach'd the foot Of the grey wither'd cliffs. Intent I stood To gaze, and in theOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 60
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-P0060
- Original scan leaf
- 67
- Recorded leaf number
- 67
- Current Reader position
- 60
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Dante's Inferno
The slimy pool we pass." As one who hears Of some great wrong he hath sustain'd, whereat Inly he pines, so Phlegyas inly pined In hisOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Dante’s Inferno, Cary translation; active reader leaf 61
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-P0061
- Original scan leaf
- 68
- Recorded leaf number
- 68
- Current Reader position
- 61
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Illustrations
Continue exploring
Wrath and Gloom beneath the Water
The fifth circle’s paired expressions of anger and inward gloom.
Shared source pagePhlegyas, Ferryman of the Marsh
The angry boatman who carries the living traveller across the fifth circle.
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.