- Virgil. Classical poet, who lived in the 1st century B.C. His most important work was Aeneid, which describes adventures of Aeneas, the leader of Trojans.
- Homer. Ancient poet, the author of Iliad and Odyssey.
- Ovid. Roman poet, author of the Metamorphoses, which provides an insight into dozens of Roman myths.
- Lucan. Roman poet and historian. His most famous work named Bellum civile sive Pharsalia. It describes war between Caesar and Pompey.
- Beatrice. Beatrice Portinari, Dante’s muse. She died in younger age and Dante placed her in Heaven.
- Tristan. Character of the Breton mythology. He was the lover of Iseult. Iseult was wife of King Mark. So Tristan and Iseult were illegal lovers. King Mark shoot Tristan. This story was very popular in Dante’s times.
- Francesca da Rimini. Real character. She was wife of Gianciotto Malatesta, Lord of Rimini. She felt in love with Gianciotto’s brother. After it was revealed, Gianciotto killed both lovers.
- Paolo Malatesta. Brother of Gianciotto Malatests, Lord of Rimini. He was killed by his brother because of the affair with Francesca, Gianciotto’s wife.
- Camilla. According to Virgil, it was woman-warrior, who helped Aeneas during Trojan War.
- Saint Peter. One of the twelve apostles. He is believed to have the key to the Gates of Heaven. Besides, he is considered to be the first bishop of Rome, the first pope.
- Celestine V. The pope. He is not mentioned in the Inferno directly but scientists think that it is his shadow can be seen by Dante at the Gates of Hell (Dante, 3.60). He signed refusal few months after elections.
- Penthesilea. Amazon Queen, who helped Trojans according to Virgil.
- Saladin. Real character. He was Sultan of Egypt and great warrior. He defended his territory against crusaders in 12th century.
- Averroes. Muslim philosopher, famous as supporter of Aristotle’s views.
- Cleopatra. Queen of Egypt. She was lover of Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.
- Sychaeus. Husband of Dido. He was killed by brother of his wife.
- Ninus. King of Assyria, husband of Semiramis, who killed him and became the Queen.
- Cornelia. Mother of Roman politicians Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, daughter of Scipio Africanus.
- Thales. Greek philosopher and scientist from Miletus.
- Galen. Greek physician, whose works influenced the medicine of the Middle Ages.
Works Cited
Dante, Alighieri. Inferno. Trans. Henry W. Longfellow. 2009. Web. 9 Nov 2013. < http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1001/1001-h/1001-h.htm>
Dante’s Inferno. The University of Texas at Austin. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/index2.html>
The World of Dante. Web. 9 Nov 2013. <http://www.worldofdante.org/inferno1.html>
