HONOR 2102 Lecture 2: Inferno Canto 19-21
14 Feb 2017
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Heads down, holes in the rock, with protruding feet tormented by flames. Simon magus: tried to buy spiritual power of the holy spirit, simony; sale of spiritual goods or fraudulent acquisition of ecclesiastical offices. Dante refers to the corruption of the church from its increase in wealth: dante critiques the church s temporal power. Xx (20) 8th circle, 4th pouch: diviners, astrologers, magicians. Heads are turned backwards (fraud: they tried to look too far forward, so their heads are turned back. Virgil says the souls are impious for linking god s judgment to passivity. Souls are diviners and soothsayers: dante views as practitioners of impious and unlawful arts who attempt to avert. Michael scot; scientist, philosopher, occultist and astrologer. Jerusalem; just after 6am, dawn of holy saturday, april 9th. Plunged into boiling pitch and guarded by demons armed with prongs. Dante hides from the demons, afraid of them.
