Dante and Ovid's Metamorphoses . Compare Dante's Inferno to Ovid's Metamorphoses

Ovid was a major Italian poet who lived during the foundation of the Roman Empire. He is best known for the Metamorphoses, a 15- book continuous mythological narrative written in the meter of epic. His poetry was much imitated during late antiquity and Middle. “The descent to the underworld” in Ovid’s Metamorphoses can be seen as a tradition in the Roman Civilization.

Ovid inspired many authors such as Virgil, Dante, and, Spencer. Several similarities characterize these authors’ work. Places and characters recur across their works. Inferno, describes Dante journey through the nine circle of Hell. After meeting his guide, Virgil, the eminent Roman poet, in a mythical dark wood. The two poets begin their descend trough a baleful word of awful shades, horrifying tortures. In which manner Dante inspire himself from Ovid?

It is certain that Dante read Ovid’s works. Ovid was a major inspiration for Dante, Ovid even appears as a character in Limbo. Limbo, Lust, Gluttony, and, Anger are represented in this extract of Metamorphoses. First, the “nine acres” in Ovid’s work recall the nine of hell of Dante’s Inferno. These circles are organized from the least important sin to the most important sin. The same characters are presented: Cerberus, the three furies, and the Giant Tityos . Dante Christianizes them and makes them instruments of the divine justice of a Christian God. Furthermore, the Styx is an important river in hell is also in both. Another important similarity is the organization of Hell: Juno and Dante see many prominent people from classical antiquity, and also notable people from history and mythology such as … Moreover, each punishment reflects the type of the sin committed during lifetime.

To conclude, it is obvious that tradition has a very important place in the Roman history and also literature. A tradition from the 1st century still be relevant to readers.