List of Cultural References in Divine Comedy - N

N

• Nasidius: See Sabellus and Nasidius.
• Neptune: God of the sea. Inf. XXVIII, 83.
• "Neque nubent": ("Nor do they marry.") (Mat 22:30)
  • Quoted by the penitent soul of Pope Hadrian V in Purgatory to show that worldly honors do not transfer there. Dante had done him reverence on learning his identity. Purg. XIX, 137.
• Nessus: See Centaur.
• Niccolò: See Spendthrift Club.
• Nicholas: Saint and Bishop of Myra in the 4th cent. C.E. One legend about Nicholas is that he rescued three young poor girls from a life of prostitution by a secret gift of dowries.
  • Cited by Hugh Capet, who is repenting the terrace of the greedy, as an example of generosity. Purg. XX, 31–33.
• Pope Nicholas III (c. 1220–1280): Born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini from an eminent Roman family, he was made cardinal by Innocent IV and became pope in 1277, where he distinguished himself for his ability as a politician.
  • Punished among the Simoniacs for his nepotism. He prophesies to Dante the arrival in Hell of the popes Boniface VIII and Clement V. Inf. XIX, 31–120.
• Nimrod: Great-grandson of Noah. According to Genesis, he was a "mighty hunter" and King of Shinar. Legends about him have him in charge of building the Tower of Babel.
  • Encountered chained in the "Well of the Giants," where he speaks only gibberish. Inf. XXXI, 58–81.
  • Depicted on the pavement in Purgatory as an exemplar of arrogance. He is shown a the foot of the Tower of Babel. Purg. XII, 34.
• Nino de' Visconti: See Ugolino della Gherardesca.
• Ninus: Mythical king of Assyria and eponymous founder of Nineveh, he was the husband of Semiramis.
  • Remembered as predecessor of Semiramis on the throne of Assyria. Inf. V, 59.
• Niobe: Queen of Thebes, whose seven sons and seven daughters were killed by Apollo and Diana after Niobe boasted she was superior to their mother Latona.
  • Depicted in the pavement carvings in Purgatory as an example of arrogance. Purg. XII, 37.

• Nisus: Son of Hyrtacus and friend of Aeneas and Euryalus. He was mentioned in Virgil's Aeneid. — One of those who "died for Italy". Inf. I, 106–108
• Noah
  • Raised by Jesus from Limbo into Paradise. Inf. IV, 56.