Antepurgatory

Canto 7 Law of the Ascent

              only by daylight

Canto 8

Circle of Negligent Rulers

German Emperors who didn’t come to Italy
              13^th C. Rudolph (father of Albert of Austria)
                   “who could have healed the wounds
                     that were the death of Italy” Pur 8, 94-95

Canto 6 Dante’s Invective against Italy

             Justinian’s saddle empty, Rome as widow

             What happens without the Emperor?

            “… the cities of Italy are full of tyrants….” Pur 6, 124

Siena Palazzo Publico (Town Hall)

           Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1290-1348

           Frescoes of Good and Bad Government (= tyranny)

Canto X,

Emperor Trajan   (98-117 AD)

      one of the “good” Roman Emperors
      story of Trajan and the widow told in

                13^th C. Golden Legend,
                 anthology of saints’ lives

Purg 14

Romagnoles: nostalgia for the good old days
Theme of chivalry, knighthood

Compare Paradise 6
        Speech of Cacciaguida, Dante’s ancestor
                     on good old days in 12^th C. Florence

Florentine Painting 13th-early 14th C.

Cimabue (1240-1032)

Giotto da Bondone (1266-1337)