The Giants of Inferno 31
The giants who guard the Ninth Circle: where Dante names them, what they add to the canto, and his classical and biblical sources.
| Giant | Line Reference | Contribution to the Canto | Dante’s Source | Dante’s Adaptation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nimrod | ll. 67–81 (named at l. 77) | First giant encountered; his gibberish speech dramatizes the punishment for linguistic pride and the chaos of Babel. | Biblical (Genesis) | Dante invents the incomprehensible line “Raphèl maí amècche zabí almi.” Nimrod’s placement reflects medieval exegesis linking him to Babel. |
| Ephialtes | ll. 94–120 (named at l. 109) | Embodies cosmic rebellion; his trembling and chained posture emphasize the danger of unrestrained force. | Ovid (Metamorphoses 1.151–162: Gigantomachy); Virgil (Aeneid 6.582–584: Titans) | Dante blends Titan and Giant traditions. Ephialtes’ shaking is Dante’s invention. |
| Briareus | ll. 99–100 | Mentioned as a comparison to Ephialtes’ size; not present physically. | Virgil (Aeneid 10.565: “centumgeminus Briareus”); Ovid (Metamorphoses 1.151–162: Hecatoncheires). | Dante uses Briareus as a hyperbolic classical reference to amplify Ephialtes’ terror. |
| Tityos | l. 101 | Mentioned as another mythic rebel; not present. | Virgil (Aeneid 6.595–600: Tityos punished in Hades); Ovid (Metamorphoses 4.456–461). | Dante uses Tityos as a moral analogue for rebellion against divine authority. |
| Typhon | l. 101 | Mentioned alongside Tityos; not present. | Virgil (Georgics 1.279–283: Typhoeus buried under Etna); Ovid (Metamorphoses 5.331–353). | Typhon expands Dante’s catalogue of cosmic rebels. |
| Antaeus | ll. 121–145 (named at l. 124) | Only giant not chained; physically lowers Dante and Virgil into Cocytus. His relative gentleness provides narrative transition. | Virgil (Aeneid 8.239–241: Hercules’ defeat of Antaeus); Ovid (brief mentions in Metamorphoses 9.183–184). | Dante adapts Antaeus as morally ambiguous —strong but not a rebel. His helpfulness is unique among the giants. |