In the middle of Dante’s discussion with the Achemists, two other souls run up. Dante watches in horror while one of them sinks his teeth into the sinner Dante was speaking with and drags him away like prey. These souls are the falsifiers of people, condemned to an eternity of madness. This is followed by Dante and Virgil encountering a bizarre “lute shaped” soul with a huge belly and worthless legs who can only move tiny distances. This is Master Adam, one of the souls of the counterfeiters. This sinner is condemned to have a horrible disease where he is always parched, but can never quench his unbearable thirst.

Master Adam points out to Dante two other figures, Potiphar’s wife (the Biblical figure, who tried to seduce Joseph), and Sinon the greek (who convinced the Trojans to bring the Trojan horse into that city). These sinners represent the sin of falsification of words. Dante watches closely as Master Adam and Sinon the Greek engage in a petty argument while suffering in Hell, however Virgil keeps Dante moving toward the central pit of Hell. …continue… …or go back…