• Italy Gay Travel
  • Travel Guides
  • Lifestyle
  • Queer News
  • Q Channel
  • English
Menu
  • Italy Gay Travel
  • Travel Guides
  • Lifestyle
  • Queer News
  • Q Channel
  • English
Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter
  • About us
  • LGBTQ Italy Guide
  • Plan your Trip
  • Contact us
  • About us
  • LGBTQ Italy Guide
  • Plan your Trip
  • Contact us
Search
Close

Dante Alighieri and his Divine Comedy

Redazione by Redazione
21 December 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read

2021 commemorates the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), the father of the Italian language. In his masterpiece poem, “The Divine Comedy”, where he imagines his journey through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise, Dante elevates what he calls “Italian”, a vernacular dialect, to the status of a language in its own right. Up until then the only language used in books and art works was Latin.

One day, in particular, is mentioned in reference to the Divine Comedy: March 25, 1300 when Dante imagines the beginning of his journey into the Underworld which begins “Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita, mi ritrovai in una selva oscura...”. In the middle of the journey of life, I find myself in a dark jungle…

In his fantastic voyage, Dante meets many historical characters as well as people from his own personal life. He lived in Florence in the thirteenth century, a time when first Humanism and then the Renaissance were awakening the minds of artists and much attention was paid to man as the center of the universe. In the third round of the seventh circle of the Inferno, he encounters the “sodomites”, who are subjected to the brutal punishment of having to move constantly to avoid being stuck by flaming darts raining on them. Still today, seven hundred years later, it is not clear what was Dante’s mindset to lead him imagine this scene where many illustrious members of Florentine society, including his mentor Brunetto Latini, are being punished for homosexuality.

 He makes a distinction between these sinners in hell and those sodomites he finds in Purgatory, whose names he does not mention and who are placed together with the lustful heterosexuals as if they were less sinful somehow. In fact, at the time it was thought that the sin of sodomy could be either committed on purpose or naturally. The former would have destined for Hell, the latter for Purgatory.

 Dante proves to be a man of his times, this was an era when ecclesiastic values were confronted with widespread indulgent behavior and evolving world views. It is evident that Brunetto Latini, as Dante’s mentor and teacher, was to be respected for his great culture and therefore his moral sins were overcome by the esteem Dante had for his master. For the poet, there were much worse sins, such as treason. However, he shows that he is still firmly anchored in the religious morality of his time, otherwise why would Brunetto Latini be in hell at all?

 Literary criticism has often dwelt on Dante’s view of homosexuality: does the way he forgives Brunetto Latini mean that he shared his homosexual lifestyle?  The fact that Dante’s moral judgement does not condemn homosexuality in full, while often trying to focus on the personal greatness and deeds of the people in his books rather than their more shameful actions, was not accepted well by the critics of his time. It is fascinating to reflect on his life in the 13th century, and how far we have come (or not) in society’s ability to tolerate differences and embrace diversity.

Share120Tweet75

Related Posts

Santa Marinella Grottaferrata 2022
Queer News

LGBTQ+ Italy Shines in the Latest Issue of QMagazine

6 December 2022

November 2022 has been a milestone for LGBTQ+ Italy on a global scale. Milan hosted an international convention on LGBTQ+ tourism called IGLTA, at which thousands of professionals from the travel and hospitality industry got to experience what makes...

Milan Rainbow
Queer News

Gay Milan: Everything You Need To Know Ahead of the 2022 IGLTA Convention

31 March 2022

Gay Milan is preparing to welcome the 38th IGLTA Convention on LGBTQ+ tourism for the first time in Italy from October 26 to 28, 2022 at UNAHOTELS Expo Fiera. Tour operators from all over the world will arrive to...

Lifestyle

Puglia Interview, Part II….

14 April 2022

What are some of your favorite places in Puglia to visit for queer travelers? Puglia’s best-known destinations include Bari, Lecce, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Gallipoli and Otranto. Personal favorites are Vieste and Peschici in Gargano and at the...

Step into a brighter autumn together at McArthurGlen Serravalle Designer Outlet
Lifestyle

Step into a brighter autumn together at McArthurGlen Serravalle Designer Outlet

21 December 2021

McArthurGlen Serravalle Designer Outlet welcomes you to celebrate the start of Autumn and make it a Season of discoveries a time to experience the joy of a prestigious designer shopping experience with fashionable styles to suit all tastes. Visit...

About Quiiky Magazine

Quiiky Magazine

Quiiky Magazine

Italian LGBTQ+ Travel & Lifestyle Portal

Quiiky Magazine is the premier Italian lifestyle and travel portal dedicated to LGBTQ+ travelers, featuring articles on Italian destinations, cuisines, wines, art, history and culture.

Download our Magazine

Categories

  • Lifestyle (17)
  • Queer News (21)
  • Travel Guides (81)
QUIIKY TOUR OPERATOR

VIAGGI LGBTQ+ TAILOR MADE

Scopri di più ⟶

media partner

We support

Member of

Newsletter

Ricevi tutte le novità dall’universo rainbow

Clicca qui

© 2022 Quiiky Magazine by Sonders&Beach - ROC Lombardia n. 21970 del 13/02/2012 | ISSN 2281-6186

Privacy Terms

  • About us
  • Advertising
  • LGBTQ+ Italy Travel Guide
  • Contact us
  • Plan your Trip
  • About us
  • Advertising
  • LGBTQ+ Italy Travel Guide
  • Contact us
  • Plan your Trip
  • English