Examples Of Idolatry In Dante's Inferno

In Dante’s Inferno, Dante thoroughly describes what he believes Hell to be. He lists many sins, along with their punishments and placements in Hell. Strangely enough, Dante does not have a specific circle for idolatry, the worship of idols, or something other than God. This is thought to be strange because idolatry is generally considered a grave sin. One possible explanation of this is that each sin in itself can be viewed as a form of idolatry. As you engage in idolatry you begin to configure your life around your idol instead of configuring your life around God. Naturally this leads you away from God, and the farther away you become from God the more likely you are going to hell. Ultimately engaging in idolatry will lead you to hell. Dante shows this in his Inferno through many characters, such as Francesca, Ciacco, and fraudulent bankers.

Dante encounters the soul of Francesca in the second circle of Hell, the circle of lust.

Francesca was married to a man for whom she lost her love. One day she was reading a story with her husband’s younger brother Paolo Da Rimini. Francesca told Dante, “we read about those longed for lips now being kissed by such a famous lover,” (V. 133-134). This passage that they read brought about their infamous kiss. Later both Francesca and Paolo died and were eternally damned to hell for this action. In christianity it is common knowledge that having relations outside of marriage is a grave sin, yet these two souls engaged. She completely disregarded her knowledge and place her love for Paolo above God. In this way she was idolizing Paolo and he idolized her, which landed them in

Hell.
After his encounter with Francesca and his journey through the circle of lust Dante transitions into the third circle of Hell, the circle of gluttony. As he enters the third circle he writes, “I am in the third circle, the round of rain eternal, cursed, cold, and falling heavy, unchanging beat, unchanging quality.” (VI. 7-9). Here Dante meets Ciacco, a former official of Florence that Dante knew before his death. Dante does not go into deep description of exactly why Ciacco is placed in Hell, it is only known that he is in the circle of gluttony. Gluttony is commonly known to be excessive eating and is also deemed by the church as one of the seven deadly sins. This most likely means Ciacco valued food to the point that it lead him away from God. In this sense he made food his idol and inadvertently committed idolatry.
Much later in the Inferno, Dante travels to the eighth circle, the circle of fraud. He defines fraud as willful deception and believes it to be one of the worst sins. He says, “Since fraud belongs exclusively to man, God hates it more and, therefore, far below, the fraudulent are placed and suffer most.” (XI. 25-27). Dante does not name any specific souls in this circle but does claim that many bankers are in this circle. It can be assumed that these bankers committed fraud in some way that allowed them to profit. This can also be considered stealing which is a well known wrong, yet the bankers ignored this fact, and proceeded with their fraudulent actions. They put money above God, making money their idol. In this way they committed idolatry.
While many may be surprised that Dante never addressed idolatry in his Inferno it can be found in the overlaying scheme of his book. Although Dante does not specifically address idolatry, each of these examples show how idolatry is at the root of many sins. Each soul put their idol whether it was food, money, or love, in front of God, and each of these acts of idolatry are what lead them to Hell.