List of Cultural References in Divine Comedy - P

P

  • Maghinardo Pagani da Susinana: Signore of Faenza on the river Lamone, and Imola on the river Santerno. Ghibelline by birth, he was a Guelph in Florence. His coat of arms was a white lion on a blue field.
    • The "young lion of the white lair". Inf. XXVI, 49–51.
  • Pageant of Church History: Elaborate allegorical representation of the history of the Christian Church which Dante witnesses in Purgatory. Purg. XXXII & XXXIII.
    • The allegorical events involve the Chariot from the Pageant of the Church Triumphant and represent the troubles of the Church in its first 1300 years.
    • An Eagle ("the Bird of Jove") attacks the Chariot (the Church), representing the persecutions of Christians by various Roman Emperors. Purg. XXXII, 109–117.
    • A malnourished Fox, representing the various early heresies of the Church, leaps onto the Chariot until it is chased away by "my Lady." Purg. XXXII, 118–123.
    • The eagle returns and covers the chariot with its feathers, representing the alliance of Church and Roman Empire beginning with the Emperor Constantine I. Purg. XXXII, 124–129.
    • A dragon cuts the chariot in half with its tail and drags away half, representing the Islamic conquests during the early centuries of Islam. Purg. XXXII, 130–135.
    • The chariot is covered and choked with weeds, representing the institutional corruptions of the church and the confusion of temporal and spiritual authorities. Purg. XXXII, 136–141.
    • A harlot appears in the chariot, accompanied by an amorous giant. The harlot, an allusion to Revelation 17, represents the corrupted church, while the giant represents Philip IV of France, who removed the papacy from Rome to Avignon in France in 1307. Purg. XXXII, 142–160.
  • Pageant of the Church Triumphant: Elaborate allegorical representation of the Church Triumphant which Dante witnesses in Purgatory. Purg. XXIX & XXX.
    • The allegorical procession includes:
    • Seven large candelabras emitting rainbow smoke, representing the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Purg. XXIX, 43–60.
    • Twenty-four elders dressed in white, representing the 24 books of the Old Testament. Purg. XXIX, 82–87.
    • Four beasts with multiple wings and eyes (Lion, Ox, Eagle, & Angel), representing the four Gospels. Ancient tradition associates the four beasts seen in the visions of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:4-14) and John (Revelation 4:6-8) to the four Gospels. Purg. XXIX, 88–105.
    • A Griffin drawing a chariot, representing Christ leading the Church. Purg. XXIX, 106–114.
    • A group of three women dancing beside the right wheel, representing the Three Theological Virtues. Purg. XXIX, 121–129.
    • A group of four women dancing beside the left wheel, representing the Four Cardinal Virtues. Purg. XXIX, 130–132.
    • Saint Luke, dressed as a physician, and Saint Paul, bearing a sword. Purg. XXIX, 133–141.
    • The four authors of the "General Epistles." Finally, the author of the Apocalypse. Purg. XXIX, 142–144.
  • Palladium: A statue of Pallas Athena. Since it was believed that Troy could not be captured while it contained this statue, Odysseus (Ulysses) and Diomedes stole it during the Trojan War (Aeneid II, 228–240).
    • Its theft is one of the things for which Ulysses and Diomedes are punished. Inf. XXVI, 63.
  • Pallas: Legendary ancient Roman youth who bravely fought and died for the liberties of early Rome. His story is recounted in the Aeneid, Book X.
    • Cited by the soul of Emperor Justinian as the first example of the virtuous Roman. Par. VI, 34–36.
  • Paolo and Francesca: Brother and wife, respectively, of Giovanni Malatesta. The pair were lovers and reputedly killed by Giovanni. Francesca was the daughter of Guido da Polenta.
    • Found among the sexual sinners. Inf. V, 73–138.
  • Montagna de' Parcitati: Of the noble Parcitati family, he was head of the Ghibelline faction in Rimini till Malatesta da Verrucchio assumed control of the town in 1295. Montagna was first jailed and then treacherously murdered by Malatesta and his son Malatestino.
    • His abuse by the "mastiffs of Verruchio". Inf. XXVII, 47.
  • Paul: One of the apostles of Jesus.
    • Recalled by Dante as God's "Chosen Vessel" (Acts 9:15) for an ecstatic journey to the "third Heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2–4). Inf. II, 28–32.
    • Appears bearing the "Sword of the Spirit" (Heb 4:12) in the Pageant of the Church Triumphant. Purg. XXIX, 139–141.
  • Paris: Trojan, son of Priam and Hecuba, brother of Hector, and abductor of Helen.
    • Found amongst the sexual sinners. Inf. V, 67.
  • Parnassus: Mountain in Greece near Delphi associated with Apollo and the Muses.
    • Statius "drank in the cave of Parnassus" as he learned poetry from reading Virgil. Purg. XXII, 65.
    • Dante asks Apollo to grant him inspiration from both peaks of Parnassus to undertake writing the Paradiso. Par. I, 16–18.
  • Pasiphaë: Wife of King Minos of Crete and mother of the Minotaur. According to Virgil's Eclogue VI, 45–60, she conceived by a bull while hiding inside a hollow wooden cow.
    • Cited penitentially by souls on the terrace of the lustful. Purg. XXVI, 41.
  • Paternoster: The "Lord's Prayer" taught by Jesus to his disciples.
    • Dante is asked to say the prayer when he returns home to assist the passage of souls in Purgatory. Purg. XXVI, 130–132.
  • Penelope: Faithful wife of Odysseus (Ulysses) king of Ithaca, refusing the many suitors who invaded her home, she waited twenty years for him to return home from the Trojan War.
    • Not even Ulysses' love for his wife (and son 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.
  • Penthesilea: Queen of the Amazons, she fought on for Troy during the Trojan War.
    • Seen in Limbo. Inf. IV, 124.
  • Perillus: See Sicilian bull.
  • Pelorus: northeast promontory of Sicily.
    • Mentioned as severed from the Apennine Range. Purg. XIV, 32.
  • Persius: Aulus Persius Flaccus. Roman writer of the 1st cent. B.C.E.
    • Resident of Limbo. Purg. XXII, 100.
  • Saint Peter: One of the apostles of Jesus, and first pope.
    • "la porta di San Pietro" ("the gateway of Saint Peter"). Inf. I, 133.
    • In contrast to the Simoniacs, he paid no gold, to become head of the church, nor did he ask for any from Saint Matthias to make him an apostle. Inf. XIX, 90–96.
    • Souls in Purgatory call on Peter to pray for them. Purg. XIII, 51.
    • Par XXIV, Dante's "Examination of Faith" by St. Peter; his presence first described by Beatrice: "And she: 'O eternal light of the great man/ To whom Our Lord entrusted the same keys/ Of wondrous gladness that he brought below'." (trans. by Cotter, ln. 34-36).
  • St. Peter's Pine Cone: A colossal bronze pine cone cast in the 1st or 2nd century C.E. in Rome. Originally located in the Campus Martius, it is now located in a courtyard in the Vatican Museum.
    • Dante compares it to the dimensions of Nimrod's head. Inf. XXXI, 59.
  • Phaëton: In Greek mythology, the son of Helios, the sun god. To prove his paternity, he asked his father to allow him to drive the chariot of the sun for one day. Unable to control the horses, Phaëton almost destroyed the earth, but was killed by Zeus.
    • Used as a simile for fear in Inf. XVII, 106–108.
    • Used as a reference to the sun. Purg. IV, 73.
  • Philip IV of France (1268–1314): King from 1285, his reign is memorable for many reasons. In particular he is famous for having shattered the temporal ambitions of the popes.
    • Probably an allusion to the accusation that Clement V had got his pontificate by promising to pay Philip. Inf. XIX, 87.
  • Phlegethon: "River of fire", in Greek mythology, one of the rivers of Hades.
    • Boiling river of blood. Inf. XII, 47–48.
    • Encountered and described. Inf. XIV, 76–90.
    • Formed from the tears of the statue of the Old Man of Crete. Inf. XIV, 94–116.
    • Identified as the "red stream boiling". Inf. XIV, 130–135.
    • Its deafening roar compared to the waterfall near the monastery of San Benedetto dell'Alpe. Inf. XVI, 91–110
  • Phlegra: In Greek mythology, the site of Zeus's defeat of the Giants (Gigantes) at the end of the Gigantomachy. Inf. XIV, 58.
  • Phlegyas: In Greek mythology he was the ferryman for the souls that cross the Styx. Inf. VIII, 10–24.
  • Phoenix: Mythical bird, which at the end of its life-cycle, burns itself to ashes, from which a reborn phoenix arises.
    • Its description here is derived from Ovid's Metamorphoses (XV, 392–407). Inf. XXIV, 107–111.
  • Pholus: A wise Centaur and friend of Herakles. Inf. XII 72.
  • Photinus, a deacon of Thessalonica. See Anastasius.
  • Pia de' Tolomei: A Sienese woman allegedly murdered by her husband, Paganello de' Pannocchieschi, who had her thrown from a window in Maremma.
    • She asks for Dante's prayers when he encounters her waiting to enter Purgatory among souls who died suddenly and unprepared. "Son Pia, Siena mi fé, disfecemi Maremma." ("I am Pia. Siena made me; Maremma unmade me.") Purg. V, 130–136.
    • Pia's story is the theme of an opera by Donizetti.
    • Dante Gabriel Rossetti painted Pia in 1868.
  • Piccarda: Sister of Dante's friend Forese Donati who failed to carry out her lifelong monastic vow .
    • In the sphere of the moon, she explains to Dante the varieties of blessedness among those in Paradise. Par. III, 34-120.
  • Pier da Medicina: Apparently a political intriguer in Romagna, of whom little is known. Early commentators say he sowed discord between the Malatesta and Polenta families.
    • Foretells the betrayal and doom of Guido and Angiolello, and points out Curio. Inf. XXVIII, 63–99.
  • Pier della Vigna (c. 1190–1249) Minister of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor. He fell from favour in 1347 and subsequently committed suicide.
    • Punished amongst the suicides in Inf. XIII, 28–108.
  • Pier Pettinaio: (1180–1289) Sienese comb-seller remembered for his piety and honesty. Siena established a festival in his memory.
    • Sapia, a woman among the envious in Purgatory, says that his prayers have assisted her. Purg. XIII, 128.
  • Pierides: Daughters of Pierus, king of ancient Macedon, who entered into a contest with the Muses.
    • Mentioned in Purgatory. Purg. I, 11.
  • Pilate: Roman governor of Judea, responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus.
    • Philip IV of France compared to Pilate in his humiliation of Pope Boniface VIII. Purg. XX, 91.
  • Pillars of Hercules: Name given to the promontories — the Rock of Gibraltar in Europe and Monte Hacho near Ceuta in Africa — that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. According to legend, Heracles (Hercules), on his way to steal the cattle of Geryon split a mountain in half, thereby forming the Strait of Gibraltar and connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean. The pillars marked the western boundary of the classical world, beyond which it was not safe to sail.
    • Ulysses describes sailing past these "boundary stones" to the see the world which "lies beyond the sun". Inf. XXVI 106–116.
  • Pinamonte dei Bonacolsi: An able and shrewd politician he took advantage of the fights between Guelphs and Ghibellins that were dividing Mantua to establish himself in 1273 as supreme ruler of the city, founding a Signoria that was kept by his family till 1328.
    • His deviousness in ousting Alberto da Casalodi. Inf. XX, 95–96.
  • Pisistratus: Athenian tyrant of the 6th cent. B.C.E. His wife angrily demanded the life of a young man seen embracing their daughter in public. Pisistratus refused to succumb to anger and gives a mild reply.
    • Seen by Dante in a vision as he enters the terrace of the angry in Purgatory. Purg. XV, 94–105.
  • Pistoia: A Tuscan town which in Dante's time had lost much of its autonomy, becoming a sort of Florentine dependency.
    • Vanni Fucci prophesies the exile of the Black Guelphs from the town. Inf. XXIV, 143.
    • Invective against the town. Inf. XXV, 10–12.
  • Plato: Greek philosopher and teacher of Aristotle. In Dante's day, his writings were less influential than those of his student.
    • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 134.
    • Mentioned by Virgil as one "who would— if reason could—have been content". Purg. III, 43.
    • Beatrice corrects Dante's mistaken ideas about the eternal destiny of souls which he gathered from Plato's Timaeus. Par. IV, 29–63.
  • Plautus: Roman poet of the 2nd cent. B.C.E.
    • Resident of Limbo. Purg. XXII, 98.
  • Plutus: In Greek mythology, he was the personification of wealth. Dante almost certainly conflated him with Pluto, the Roman god of the Underworld. He is found in the fourth circle of Dante's hell, in which the greedy and prodigal are punished. Inf. VII, 1–15.
  • Pola: Italian seaport (now part of Croatia) famed for its Roman necropolis.
    • Simile for the tombs in the sixth circle. Inf. IX, 112.
  • Polycletus: Ancient Greek sculptor, famous for his realism.
    • Wall carvings in Purgatory compared to his work. Purg. X, 32.
  • Polydorus: See Hecuba.
  • Polymestor: Ancient king of Thrace. He killed Polydorus, young son of the Trojan King Priam, to steal the treasure that the boy possessed.
    • Cited by souls on the terrace of the greedy as an example of greed. Purg. XX, 115.
  • Polynices: See Eteocles
  • Polyxena: Trojan daughter of Priam and Hecuba. In some accounts, Achilles fell in love with her, and was killed while visiting her. At the demand of Achilles' ghost, Polyxena is sacrificed on Achilles' tomb.
    • With whom "Achilles finally met love—in his last battle". Inf. V, 65.
    • Her death helps drive Hecuba mad with fury. Inf. XXX, 16–18.
  • Pompey: Pompey "the Great" (106 BCE - 48 BCE). Famous patrician Roman general.
    • Cited as a virtuous Roman in the days of the Roman Republic. Par. VI, 52.
  • Priam: King of Troy, husband of Hecuba, father of Hector and Paris.
    • King when Troy was brought down. Inf. XXX, 15.
    • Asked Sinion to tell the truth about the Trojan horse. Inf. XXX, 114.
  • Priscian: Eminent Latin grammarian active in 500s who wrote the Institutiones grammaticae, extremely popular in the Middle Ages.
    • One of a group of sodomites identified by Brunetto Latini to Dante. Inf. XV, 109.
  • Proserpina: Roman goddess whose story is the myth of springtime. She was the daughter of Ceres and wife of Pluto, king of the underworld. In Greek mythology her name is Persephone.
    • "Queen of never-ending lamentation". Inf. IX, 44.
    • Moon goddess whose face is "kindled" once a month. Inf. X, 79.
    • When Dante sees Matilda gathering flowers in Terrestrial Paradise, he is reminded that Proserpina was doing the same when he was abducted by Pluto. Purg. XXVIII, 49–51.
  • Ptolemy (c. 85–165): Greek geographer, astronomer, and astrologer. His geocentric theory of the universe was the standard astronomical model of Dante's day.
    • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 142.
  • Puccio Sciancato: Of the noble Ghibelline Florentine Galigai family, he was exiled in 1268 after the Guelphs' triumph, but accepted the peace brokered in 1280 by Cardinal Latino to reconcile the factions. He was nicknamed Sciancato ("lame").
    • Among the thieves. Inf. XXV, 148–150.
  • Pygmalion: Ancient King of Tyre. He murdered his uncle and brother-in-law to obtain their wealth.
    • Remembered as an example of greed by souls in the terrace of the greedy. Purg. XX, 103–105.
  • Pyrrhus: Either Achilles's son Neoptolemus, killer of Priam and many other Trojans, or Pyrrhus of Epirus, could be intended, although the latter was praised by Dante in his Monarchy (II, ix, 8).
    • Pointed out by Nessus. Inf. XII, 135.
    • Pyrrhus of Epirus cited as an early enemy of Rome. Par. VI, 44.

Read more about this topic:  List Of Cultural References In Divine Comedy