Chart of Hell

This is Botticelli's Chart of Hell as described by Dante in his 14th century epic poem, Inferno. Dante envisioned Hell as an abyss or giant cave leading to the center of Earth, created when God cast Lucifer out of Heaven. Lucifer is stuck in the center, caught in ice. Dante describes a journey through Hell accompanied by his friend, the poet Virgil. Descending, they pass through nine rings representing different categories of sins. The first five rings are for people who could not control their desires: lust, gluttony, greed, anger and revenge. Also, un-baptized souls and decent heathens dwell here. Rings six and seven are for heresy and violence: murderers, suicides, blasphemers, and sodomites. Rings eight and nine are for fraud and treachery: witches, thieves, astrologers, seducers, corrupt politicians, alchemists and sowers of discord. An interesting detail is that Dante describes meeting the founder of Islam, Muhammad, in that ring. Dante and many of his contemporaries viewed Islam as an offshoot from Christianity.