Inferno Allusions & Cultural References

Classical Writers

Virgil is Dante’s guide, first mention (Inf. I, 79)…
Homer (Inf. IV, 88)
Aristotle, Ethics (Inf. XI, 80)
Aristotle, Physics (Inf. XI, 101)
Aesop (Inf. XXIII, 4-7)

Mythological Characters

Charon (Inf. III, 94-99)
Aeneas (Inf. IV, 122)
Minos (Inf. V, 4-15)
Cerberus (Inf. VI, 15-18)
Plutus (Inf. VII, 1-12)
Phlegyas (Inf. VIII, 19-24) – from Virgil’s Aeneid
Furies (Inf. IX, 38-48)
Medusa (Inf. IX, 52-54)
Minotaur (Inf. XII, 12-25)
Chiron (Inf. XII, 72) – a centaur
Nessus (Inf. XII, 67-69) – a centaur
Capaneus (Inf. XIV, 63-69)
Old Man of Crete (Inf. XIV, 94-111)
Geryon (Inf. XVII, 97)
Manto (Inf. XX, 52-93)
Ulysses (Inf. XXVI, 55-63)
Sinon (Inf. XXX, 98-99)
Antaeus (Inf. XXXI, 113-114)Dis (Inf. VIII, 67-75) – epithet for Classical UnderworldLancelot (Inf. V, 128-129) – a knight in Arthurian legend
Gallehault (Inf. V, 137) – a knight in Arthurian legend

Biblical References

Genesis (Inf. XI, 107)

Saint Lucia (Inf. II, 97-102)
Simon Magus (Inf. XIX, 1)
Saint Peter (Inf. XIX, 90-96)
Mohammed (Inf. XXVIII, 31)
Nimrod (Inf. XXXI, 67-81)
Lucifer (Inf. XXXIV, 28-57)

Historical Figures

Francesca da Rimini (Inf. V, 116)
Ciacco (Inf. VI, 52-54)
Filippo "Argenti" (Inf. VIII, 61) – "Argenti," meaning "silver" in Italian, was a nickname given to him because he shod his horse with silver horseshoes
Epicurus (Inf. X, 14-15)
Farinata degli Uberti (Inf. X, 32)
Pier della Vigna (Inf. XIII, 33-69) – not actually named in text, but scholars have identified him; also in endnotes
Brunetto Latini, Tesoretto (Inf. XV, 119)
Pope Nicholas III (Inf. XIX, 67-72) – not actually named in text, but scholars have identified him; also in endnotes
Pope Boniface VIII (Inf. XIX, 53), (Inf. XXVII, 85-105)
Catalano (Inf. XXIII, 103-109)
Loderingo (Inf. XXIII, 103-109)
Vanni Fucci (Inf. XXIV, 124-126)
Guido da Montefeltro (Inf. XXVII, 67-111) – not actually named in text, but scholars have identified him; also in endnotes
Bertran de Born (Inf. XXVIII, 134-135)
Geri del Bello (Inf. XXIX, 27)
Capocchio (Inf. XXIX, 136-137)
Gianni Schicchi (Inf. XXX, 32)
Master Adam (Inf. XXX, 61-90)
Bocca degli Abati (Inf. XXXII, 106)
Count Ugolino (Inf. XXXIII, 13-75)
Fra Alberigo (Inf. XXXIII, 118-120)
Branca Doria (Inf. XXXIII, 137-147)