page_title: List of cultural references in the Divine Comedy
section_title: T
hierarchical_section_title: List of cultural references in the Divine Comedy / T
caption_attribution_description: Aeneas &#32;and&#32; Turnuslabel QS:Lit,"Enea vince Turno" label QS:Len,"Aeneas &#32;and&#32; Turnus"
context_page_description: The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is a long allegorical poem in three parts: the Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, and 100 cantos, with the Inferno having 34, Purgatorio having 33, and Paradiso having 33 cantos. Set at Easter 1300, the poem describes the living poet's journey through hell, purgatory, and paradise.
  Throughout the poem, Dante refers to people and events from Classical and Biblical history and mythology, the history of Christianity, and the Europe of the Medieval period up to and including his own day. A knowledge of at least the most important of these references can aid in understanding the poem fully.
  For ease of reference, the cantica names are abbreviated to Inf., Purg., and Par. Roman numerals are used to identify cantos and Arabic numerals to identify lines. This means that Inf. X, 123 refers to line 123 in Canto X of the Inferno and Par. XXV, 27 refers to line 27 in Canto XXV of the Paradiso. The line numbers refer to the original Italian text.
  Boldface links indicate that the word or phrase has an entry in the list. Following that link will present that entry.
context_section_description: Tagliacozzo: Site of a defeat by Manfred's nephew Conradin, by Charles of Anjou, who, following the advice of his general Erard ("Alardo") de Valery, surprised Conradin, with the use of reserve troops.
  "Where old Alardo conquered without weapons". Inf. XXVIII, 17–18.
  Tarpeian Rock: cliff on the Capitoline Hill in Rome, where an ancient temple to Saturn was located.
  Compared to the gate of Purgatory. Purg. IX, 135.
  Tarquin: Last king of Rome, he was overthrown by Lucius Junius Brutus, considered the founder of the Republic.
  Seen in Limbo. Inf. IV, 121–128.
  Taurus: Zodiac constellation in the form of a bull.
  When Dante enters the terrace of the lustful in Purgatory, Taurus is on the meridian line. Hence it is 2 P.M. in Purgatory.  Purg. XXV, 3.
  Te Deum laudamus: "We praise Thee, O God." Ancient Latin hymn sung in the morning monastic offices. Also sung in special occasions of celebration.
  Heard by Dante as he enters Purgatory. Purg. IX, 141.
  Te lucis ante: "To Thee before the close of day." Latin hymn sung at Compline, the final monastic prayer office of the day.
  Souls in the "Valley of the Princes" sing the hymn at the end of the day. Purg. VIII, 13–17.
  Telemachus: Son of Odysseus (Ulysses) and Penelope, he plays an important role in the Odyssey. In the lost Telegony he appears to have married Circe and been granted immortality.
  Not even Ulysses' love for his son (and wife and father) was enough to overrule his desire "to gain experience of the world and of the vices and the worth of men". Inf. XXVI, 94–99.
  Temple: reference to the Templars, a military order founded during the Crusades.
  Forcibly dissolved in 1307 by Philip IV of France to obtain their vast wealth. Purg. XX, 91–93.
  Terence: Publius Terentius Afer. Roman playwright of the 2nd century BCE.
  Resident of Limbo.  Purg. XXII, 97.
  Terrestrial Paradise: According to the Comedy, Terrestrial Paradise is the Garden of Eden where the original man and woman first lived. (Gen 2 & 3) It is located at the top of the mountain of Purgatory. The events of Cantos XXVIII through XXXIII in the Purgatorio take place there.
  Thebes: City of Ancient Greece.
  Statius tells Dante and Virgil that he composed the Thebaid, an epic poem on the history of Thebes. "I sang of Thebes." Purg. XXI, 92.
  Thaïs: A courtesan in Terence's Eunuchus. Perhaps misled by Cicero's commentary (De amicitia XXVI, 98), he places her among the flatterers.
  Virgil contemptuously calls her "puttana" ("whore"). Inf. XVIII, 127–135.
  Thales (c. 635–543 BCE): Greek philosopher.
  Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 137.
  Thaumas: Greek sea god, whose daughter is Iris, the goddess of rainbows.
  Statius comments that rainbows do not occur in Purgatory. Purg. XXI, 50–51.
  Themis: Greek goddess of divine justice and one of the Oracles of Delphi.
  Beatrice compares her own obscure oracles about the future to those of Themis or the Sphinx. Purg. XXXIII, 47.
  Theobald V of Champagne (c. 1238–1270): The eldest son of Theobald IV of Champagne, on his death in 1253 he succeeded him as Count of Champagne and, as Theobald II, king of Navarre. He died childless in 1270.
  The "good king Theobald" ("buon re Tebaldo"). Inf. XXII, 52.
  Theological Virtues: Virtues granted to believers by God's grace. They include Faith, Hope and Love.
  Symbolized by three stars visible from Purgatory. Purg. VIII, 93.
  Symbolized by three women dancing at the right wheel of the chariot in the Pageant of the Church Triumphant. Purg. XXIX, 121–129.
  Theseus: Legendary king of Athens who visited the underworld and, in the version used by Dante, was rescued by Herakles.
  His name invoked by the Erinyes. Inf. XI, 54.
  The "Duke of Athens" who killed the Minotaur. Inf. XII, 17.
  Helped to defeat drunken Centaurs at Hippodamia's wedding feast. Purg. XXIV, 23.
  Thetis: Noble ancient Greek woman. Wife of Peleus and mother of Achilles.
  Resident of Limbo.  Purg. XXII, 113.
  Thisbe: In a tale by Ovid (Metamorphoses IV, 55–166), Thisbe and Pyramus are lovers in ancient Babylon separated by a wall.
  Dante alludes to them when a wall of fire separates him from Beatrice.  Purg. XXV
caption: Aeneas defeats Turnus, Luca Giordano, 1634–1705, The genius of Aeneas is shown ascendant, looking into the light of the future, while that of Turnus is setting, shrouded in darkness.
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