As Dante and Virgil approach the next valley, they are accosted by a disgusting stench accompanied by shrieks of pain. They then see thousands of souls sprawled out, dragging themselves through the filth. All of these souls are afflicted by horrible, eternal, painful diseases, many scratching the skin off their bodies. Dante compares the scene to all the sick who have ever been afflicted with Malaria in the hospitals of Italy in the summer. To emphasize the scope of Hell, Virgil tells Dante that this valley, packed with diseased sinners, wraps around for 22 miles.

This is the valley of the Falsifiers, including the alchemists, the falsifiers of things. The corruption of their bodies in Hell, mimics the corruption of God’s creation on earth. In another moment of dark humor, Dante has two of it’s residents from Florence mocking the residents from Sienna. Even in the depths of Hell, these sinners can’t get past political rivalries and pettiness. While Dante speaks to the alchemists the discussion is interrupted in an amazing sequence by two other sinners. …continue..  ...or go back...