page_title: List of cultural references in the Divine Comedy
section_title: J
hierarchical_section_title: List of cultural references in the Divine Comedy / J
caption_attribution_description: English: An ancient Roman silver denarius struck between 48-47 B.C. commemorating Julius Caesar's victory in the Gallic Wars. The coin depicts a trophy with a Gallic shield, carnyx, and axe above the name of "CAESAR".
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: Jacopo da Santo Andrea: Notorious spendthrift from Padua. He may have been executed by Ezzelino da Romano in 1239.
  One of two spendthrifts (the other called "Lano" is probably Arcolano of Siena) whose punishment consists of being hunted by female hounds. Inf. XIII, 115–129.
  Jason: Greek mythological hero who led the Argonauts to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece.
  Found among the Seducers, for his seduction and abandonment of Hypsipyle and Medea. Inf. XVIII, 83–99.
  The Argonauts' voyage compared to a voyage into the mysteries of the heavens. Par. II, 16–18.
  Jason: Brother of the High Priest of Israel Onias III, he succeeded his brother in c. 175 BCE. According to 2 Maccabees he obtained his office by bribing the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
  Pope Clement V is compared to him. Inf. XIX, 85–87.
  Jephthah: Judge in ancient Israel who made a careless vow to offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving for victory in battle and accidentally committed his daughter to that sacrifice. The story appears in Judges 11.
  Beatrice cites Jephthah as an example of poor judgment. Par. IV, 64–68.
  Jerusalem: Location of the Temple of Solomon and site of Jesus' crucifixion. Considered in the Middle Ages as the geographical center of the inhabited world.
  Hell is located directly below Jerusalem. Inf. XXXIV, 112.
  Purgatory is a mountain at the antipodes of Jerusalem. Inf. XXXIV, 118–126, Purg. IV, 67–71.
  Jesus: Central figure of Christianity. According to Christian legend, in what is called the Harrowing of Hell, he descended into Hell after his death and rescued certain souls from Limbo.
  Virgil describes witnessing his descent into Hell. Inf. IV, 52–63.
  Took spoils from Dis in the Harrowing of Hell. Inf. XII, 38–39.
  Unlike the souls being punished for simony, Jesus asked no gold from Saint Peter in exchange for his office. Inf. XIX, 90–93.
  In his only appearance in the Comedy, he is seen in the form of a Griffin in the Pageant of the Church Triumphant. Purg. XXIX, 106–114.
  Jocasta: Wife and mother of Oedipus, ancient king of Thebes. They had two sons, Polynices and Eteocles. Statius' Thebaid tells the story of the family conflict.
  Mentioned as the subject of Statius' work. Purg. XXII, 55–57.
  John the Baptist: The desert prophet, who baptised Jesus. He became the patron saint of Florence, displacing the Roman Mars, and his image was stamped on the cities gold coin, the florin.
  In Florence, "the first patron gave way" to him. Inf. XIII, 143–144.
  "The currency which bears" his seal. Inf. XXX, 74.
  A voice in Purgatory on the terrace of the gluttonous cites John as an example in Temperance. Purg. XXII, 151–154.
  John the Evangelist: The name used to refer to the author of the Gospel of John. He is also traditionally identified with John the Apostle and the author of the Book of Revelation.
  Dante interprets a passage of John's Revelation (17:1–3) as a prophecy on the future corruption of the Roman Curia. Inf. XIX, 106–108.
  John's vision (Rev. 4:6–11) of four beasts in the heavenly court draws from a vision of similar beasts by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1–21). The beasts appear as allegories of the four Gospels in the Pageant of the Church Triumphant. Purg. XXIX, 103–105.
  Jordan: River on the border of Israel.
  Crossed by ancient Israelites led by Joshua after an older, less eager generation had died off. Mentioned as a lesson in sloth. Purg. XVIII, 133–135.
  Jove: See Zeus.
  Jubilee: The first Jubilee of the Roman Catholic church took place in 1300. Inf. XVIII, 28–33.
  Judas Iscariot: Disciple who betrayed Jesus.
  Virgil's visit to "Judas' circle". Inf. IX, 25–27.
  "The transgressing soul" replaced by Saint Matthias. Inf. XIX 94–96.
  Along with Brutus and Cassius, one of the three betrayer/suicides who, for those sins, were eternally chewed by one of the three mouths of Satan. Inf. XXXIV, 53–67
  Julia : Daughter of Julius Caesar and wife of Pompey.
  Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 128.
  Julius Caesar (100–44 BCE): The celebrated Roman dictator and military commander.
  Virgil's remembers him (erroneously) as ruler of Rome at his birth. Inf. I, 
caption: Denarius commemorating Julius Caesar for his success during the Gallic Wars.
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