Canto XXXIII. Circle 9: Cocytus / Compound Fraud; Round 2: Antenora - The Treacherous to Country (Friar Alberegio, Count Ugolino, and Archbishop Ruggiero); Round 3: The Treacherous to God and Hosts c. 15th century

Curator: Here we have an engraving of Canto XXXIII from Dante’s Inferno. Though the artist is anonymous, the scene depicts Ugolino della Gherardesca gnawing on Archbishop Ruggieri's head. What strikes you about it? Editor: The stark contrast between the figures and the dense text creates a feeling of claustrophobia. The scene seems brutal, yet distant, almost like a morbid curiosity frozen in time. Curator: Indeed. Dante places Ugolino in the second ring of the ninth circle of Hell, reserved for those who betrayed their country. Ugolino, a Pisan count, was imprisoned and starved along with his sons and grandsons due to Ruggieri's treachery. Editor: So, this image then is not just about physical horror, but about the consequences of betrayal and the brutal material realities of power, imprisonment, and starvation. The act of cannibalism underscores the complete breakdown of social order. Curator: Exactly. This canto explores the depths of human cruelty and the cyclical nature of vengeance, revealing the complex interplay between political machinations and personal suffering in Dante's vision of hell. Editor: It really makes one consider how basic resources and raw materials can be weaponized to inflict unimaginable pain. I guess the image left me contemplating the power dynamics etched into every line.