Out of the pit where Dante’s belt was thrown rises a terrifying monster with the head of a man, the body of a serpent, and the tail of a scorpion. This is Geryon, who “swims” through the murky air of the abyss, undulating his body like an eel while stroking the air with his claws. Geryon represents the sin of fraud, with a trusting face and a deadly tail. Incredibly, he will be giving Dante and Virgil a “ride” down to the pit.
While Virgil speaks to Geryon, Dante talks to another group of souls nearby squatting on the sand, the Usurers, or moneylenders. Their faces are unrecognizable from the burns and ash, and are identified only by the insignias of the moneybags around their necks. Dante then joins Virgil and Geryon to continue in their journey of terror.
What? Don’t leave me hanging, this is so much more fun than reading my book, I did not have so many fantastic illustrations..
DebErie
I think that is a great representation of fraud. “a trusting face and a deadly tail”
This definitely describes the caption “moneylenders”. And I definitely agree with you it has something to do with fraud and greediness.
“A trusting face and a deadly tail” he’s referencing a coin. The heads side had the face of the president or ruler who we’re supposed to trust but the tails side typically shows a government insignia which are riddled with Masonic symbolism which can be the deadly side (or the true side) of this all. Money is no bueno