List of Cultural References in Divine Comedy - L

L

• "Labïa mëa, Domine": Abbreviation of "Domine, labia mea aperies; et os meum annunciabit laudem tuam." ("O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim thy praise.") (Psalm 51:15; Ps 50:15 in the Vulgate.) Verse recited at the beginning of the first monastic prayer office of the day.
  • Chanted in penitence by souls on the terrace of the gluttonous in Purgatory. Purg. XXIII, 10–12.
• Lacedaemon: Also known as Sparta, a leading city in ancient Greece.
  • Dante commends Lacedaemon as an example of orderly government. Purg. VI, 139.
• Lachesis: One of the three Fates in Greco-Roman mythology. With a measuring rod, she measures out the life-span of every mortal.
  • Mentioned with reference to death. Purg. XXV, 79.
• Laertes: Mythical father of Odysseus (Ulysses), he was one of the Argonauts. In the Odyssey he takes part in the massacre of Penelope's suitors.
  • Not even Ulysses' love for his father (and wife and son) 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.
• Lancelot: Central figure of the Arthurian legend. Reading tales of his amorous adventures led Paulo and Francesca astray.
  • Inf. V, 128.
• Lano: See Arcolano of Siena.
• Brunetto Latini: Famous Florentine Guelph politician and writer, friend and teacher of Dante till his death in 1294.
  • Encountered by Dante among the sodomites in the seventh circle. The meeting between Dante and Brunetto is one of the most important in the Inferno, as Brunetto is given the key role of prophesying the future exile of Dante. Dante extols his encyclopaedia, Li Livres dou Tresor, of which Dante has Brunetto say: "Sieti raccomandato il mio Tesoro, nel qual io vivo ancora". Inf. XV, 22–124.
• Lateran Palace: The principle papal residence, from the beginning of the 4th century, until the beginning of Avignon Papacy, in 1305.
  • Used by Dante to allude to Boniface's warring against Christians, rather than "Jews" or "Saracens". Inf. XXVII, 86.
• Latinus: The "Latian king" and one of a group of figures associated with the history of Troy, Virgil's Aeneid, and the history of Rome encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 121–128.
• Lavinia: Daughter of Latinus and Amata and wife of Aeneas.
  • One of a group of figures associated with the history of Troy, Virgil's Aeneid, and the history of Rome encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 121–128; Par. VI, 3.
  • Dante has a vision of Lavinia mourning for her mother Amata, who committed suicide after inciting a war between the Latins and the Trojans. The vision comes as Dante departs the terrace of the angry in Purgatory. Purg. XVI, 34–39.
• Lawrence: Deacon in the Church in Rome, martyred in 258. According to tradition, he was tied to a grate and burned to death.
  • Beatrice cites Lawrence as an example of a steadfast will. Par. IV, 83.
• Leah: Sister to Rachel, first wife of Jacob, and mother of six of the tribes of ancient Israel. She was the less attractive of the two sisters, but Jacob was tricked into marrying her first. (Gen 29:16-25)
  • In a dream, Dante sees her gathering flowers. Purg. XXVII, 97–108.
• Leander: Ancient Greek youth who carried on a love affair with Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, who lived on the opposite shore of the Hellespont. Each night he would swim across the strait to be with her.
  • Dante compares the Lethe River to the Hellespont, and his desire for Matilda to that of Leander for Hero.
• Learchus: See Hera.
• Lethe: One of the rivers of Hades in Greek mythology. To drink its waters is to forget everything. In the Comedy, its source is in Terrestrial Paradise at the top of Purgatory. When it reaches the base of the mountain, it flows down a narrow passageway to the center of the earth.
  • Its location is asked about and given. Inf. XIV, 130–138.
  • Probably the little stream Dante hears at the center of the earth. Inf. XXXIV 130–132.
  • Guido Guinizelli tells Dante that even Lethe will not erase his memory of their conversation. Purg. XXVI, 106–108.
  • Dante arrives at its banks. Purg. XXVIII, 25.
  • Matilda explains that its source is miraculous because there is no rain in Terrestrial Paradise. Purg. XXVIII, 121–133.
  • Dante must repent of his infidelity to Beatrice before he is allowed to drink from the Lethe and forget the act. Purg. XXX, 142–145.
  • Matilda bears Dante through the Lethe. Purg. XXXI, 94–96.
  • Dante sees the source of the Lethe in Terrestrial Paradise. Purg. XXXIII, 123.
• Levi: Son of Jacob and Leah and eponymous forebear of a tribe of ancient Israel. The tribe of Levi was responsible for duties of worship and did not receive a tribal homeland.
  • Dante refers to the clergy as "Levi's sons." Purg. XVI, 131.
• Libra: Constellation of the zodiac. During the events of the Comedy, it would be highest in the sky at about 1 A.M.
  • Used to indicate the time of day. Purg. XXVII, 3.
• Limbo: The first circle of Dante's Hell and the scene of Inf. IV. It is a kind of antechamber in which the souls of the good who died before Jesus spend eternity with no punishment other than the lack of the divine presence. In Dante's version, figures from Classical antiquity significantly outnumber those from the Old Testament.
• Linus: Mythical son of Apollo who taught music to Orpheus.
  • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 141.
• Livy (c. 59 BCE–17 CE): The famous Roman historian author of the monumental Ab Urbe Condita, telling the history of Rome from the origins down to his own times.
  • The historian "who does not err". Inf. XXVIII, 12.
• Lombards: Germanic tribe who invaded Italy in the 6th cent. B.C.E. and established a kingdom in the northern part of the peninsula.
  • The conquering Lombards were Arian Christians in belief, where they came into conflict with the Catholic Church in Rome. Par. VI, 94–95.
• Peter Lombard (c.1090–1160): Theologian and Bishop; author of The Sentences, a famous medieval textbook of theology.
  • Pointed out by Thomas Aquinas in the sphere of the Sun. Par. X, 107.
• Lucan (39–65): Latin poet, whose Pharsalia, an epic poem on the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, is an important source for Dante. Like Seneca he was forced to commit suicide by Nero for his participation in the Pisonian conspiracy.
  • One of a group of classical poets (see Homer) encountered in Limbo. Inf. IV, 90.
  • The serpents in the Malebolge comes from his Pharsalia (IX, 710 ff). Inf. XXIV, 85–90.
  • His description in Pharsalia (IX, 761–804) of the deaths and "transformations" of Sabellus and Nasidiusis is compared with the transformations of the thieves and sinners in the Malebolge. Inf. XXV, 94–96.
• Lucca: A Tuscan city of considerable importance in the Middle Ages; generally Guelph, it was traditionally an ally of Florence and an enemy of Pisa.
  • Dante, through the words of a devil, accuses its magistrates of being all corrupt: "torno ... a quella terra, che n'è ben fornita: ogn'uom v'è barattier, ... del no, per li denar, vi si fa ita" Inf. XXI, 39–42.
• Lucia of Syracuse: (Saint Lucy) 4th century martyr saint associated with light and those, like Dante, who suffered from poor eyesight. She symbolises Illuminating Grace in the poem.
  • Serves as an intermediary between the "gentle lady" (see Mary) and Beatrice. Inf. II, 97–108.
  • Lifts Dante in his sleep to the Gate of St. Peter in Purgatory. Purg. IX, 55.
• Lucretia: Legendary woman in the history of the Roman Republic, whose rape by the son of king Tarquinius Superbus was revenged by Brutus when he overthrew the king.
  • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 128.
  • Cited as a reason for the end of Roman monarchy. Par. VI, 41.
• Luke: Writer of the third Gospel. Luke includes a story of the resurrected Jesus quietly joining two disciples as they walked the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-27)
  • When Statius joins Virgil and Dante as they walked in Purgatory, Dante compares the meeting to the event in Luke. Purg. XXI, 7–13.
• Lycurgus: Ancient king of Nemea. According to Statius's Thebaid (V.499-730), Lycurgus received Hypsipyle and her two sons as refugees from Lemnos and put his own son in her care. When she accidentally permitted the Lycurgus' son to die of a snakebite, the enraged king wanted to kill her. Her two sons rushed to her side to protect her.
  • Mentioned by Dante. Purg. XXVI, 94–96.