List of Cultural References in Divine Comedy - S

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  • Sabellus and Nasidius: Two soldiers of Cato's army in Lucan's poem Pharsalia (IX, 761–804), who are bitten by snakes, while marching in the Libyan Desert, after which their bodies "transform". Sabellus' transforms into a rotting formless mass; Nasidius' swells, then bursts.
    • Their cruel fate is compared to that of the thieves. Inf. XXV, 94–95.
  • Sabine Women: Young women abducted by Roman youths in the early days of Rome. Par. VI, 41.
  • Saladin: 12th century Muslim leader renowned for his military prowess, generosity, and merciful attitude to his opponents during the Crusades.
    • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 129.
  • Salve Regina: Hymn to the Virgin Mary used in evening services. The song addresses Mary from "the vale of tears."
    • Sung at sunset by souls in waiting to enter Purgatory in the "Valley of the Princes." Purg. VII, 83.
  • Samaria: Region north of Jerusalem and west of the Jordan River. According to John 4:4-28, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman at a well. Their dialogue is about spiritual thirst.
    • Dante's eagerness to learn the meaning of the earthquake in Purgatory is compared to spiritual thirst. Purg. XXI, 1–4.
  • Sardinia: Italian Island north of Tunisia and south of Corsica. In Dante's time it was plagued by malaria.
    • Sickness from July until September. Inf. XXIX, 46–48.
  • Sannella: (Simonetti della Sannella) Italian noble family, latter known as Simonetti, one of the ancient Florentine families from the time of Cacciaguida.
    • Mentioned together with other noble families, such as: Arca, Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi Par. XVI.
  • Sapphira: early Christian woman who died along with her husband after they confessed to with-holding money promised to the Church. (Acts 5:1-11)
    • Cited as an example of greed by souls on the terrace of the greedy. Purg. XX, 112.
  • Satan: Biblical angel who embodies evil and is the greatest foe of God and mankind.
    • Encountered frozen in Cocytus at the center of the earth. Inf. XXXIV, 28–67
    • Depicted in a pavement carving falling from heaven as an exemplar of arrogance. Purg. XII, 25.
  • Saturn: Seventh and outermost planet in the geocentric planetary theory in Dante's day.
    • Known as the "cold planet," it and the moon draw heat away from the earth at night. Purg. XIX, 1–2.
  • Saul: First king of ancient Israel. He died by falling on his own sword after losing a battle at Gilboa.
    • Depicted on the pavement in Purgatory as an exemplar of arrogance. Purg. XII, 40.
  • Gianni Schicchi: Disguised as the Florentine Buoso Donati, who had just died, he dictated a new will, bequeathing to himself Donati's best mare.
    • With his tusks he drags off Capocchio, after which Griffolino of Arezzo tells of Schicchi's impersonation. Inf. XXX, 22–45.
  • Scipio: Roman general (236–183 BC) who defeated Hannibal at the Battle of Zama.
    • The giant Antaeus lived in the valley where the battle of Zama was fought. Inf. XXXI, 115.
    • Cited as a hero of the Roman Republic. Par. VI, 52.
  • Scorpius: Constellation in the form of a Scorpion and sign of the Zodiac.
    • Dante sees stars at dawn "in the form of an animal that assails with its tail." Purg. IX, 5.
    • Scorpius is on the meridian line when Dante enters the terrace of the lustful. Hence is it 2 P.M. in Purgatory. Purg. XXV, 3.
  • Michael Scot (c. 1175–1234): Scottish mathematician, philosopher, alchemist and astrologer, honoured by popes and emperors, especially Frederick II, he developed a popular reputation as a magician and seer.
    • Damned among the soothsayers. Of him it is said "che veramente de le magiche frode seppe 'l gioco". Inf. XX, 115–117.
  • Second Punic War: The second of the wars fought between Carthage and Rome (219–202). According to Livy, Hannibal sent to Carthage "a pile" of gold rings from the fingers of thousands of slaughtered Romans.
    • "The long war where massive mounds of rings were battle spoils". Inf. XXVIII, 10–12.
  • Semele: See Hera.
  • Semiramis: Legendary figure who was, in Dante's day, believed to have been sexually licentious after the death of her husband Ninus.
    • Found amongst the sexual sinners. Inf. V, 52–60.
  • Seneca, Lucius Annaeus (C. 4 BCE–65): Roman philosopher, statesman and dramatist, forced to commit suicide by Nero for his participation in the Pisonian conspiracy, called "morale" (moral), by Dante.
    • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 141.
  • Sennacherib: King of Assyria (705–681 BCE). According to II Kings, he led a failed siege against Jerusalem where his army was wiped out by plague sent by God. He then was murdered by his own sons.
    • Depicted on the pavement in Purgatory as an example of arrogance. Purg. XII, 53.
  • Serchio: A river near Lucca.
    • Leisurely floating on ones back in this river is contrasted, by the Malebranche, with the different kind of swimming by the barrators in the lake of boiling pitch. Inf. XXI, 49.
  • Seven Deadly Sins: A list developed by Christian moralists of the principal vices. They include Pride (superbia), Greed (avaritia), Lust (luxuria), Envy (invidia), Gluttony (gula), Anger (ira), and Sloth (acedia).
    • Dante's Purgatory is structured in seven levels where souls are purged of these vices before entering Paradise. Virgil explains them in order of ascent.
    • Pride is "hope of excellence through the abasement of another." Purg. XVII, 115–117.
    • Envy is "love of misfortune" of another when the other excels. Purg. XVII, 118–120.
    • Anger is "seeking another's harm" after being injured by another. Purg. XVII, 121–123.
    • Sloth is love for the Good which is "slack." Purg. XVII, 130–132.
    • Greed, Gluttony & Lust are "excessive self-abandonment" (troppo s'abbandona) to the lesser goods of possessions, food & drink, and sexual desire. Purg. XVII, 136–139.
  • Sextus Pompeius: Son of Pompey the Great and opponent of Julius Caesar, portrayed by Lucan as a cruel pirate (Pharsalia VI, 420–422).
    • Pointed out by Nessus. Inf. XII, 135.
  • Shepherd: reference to the Pope as chief shepherd of the Christian flock.
    • Criticized for failure to distinguish spiritual and secular powers. He can "chew the cud" (has wisdom) but does not "have cleft hooves" (have both spiritual and temporal authorities). See Lev 11:3. Purg. XVI, 98–99. He also has "joined the sword to the shepherd's crook." Purg. XVI, 109–110.
  • Sichaeus: First husband of Dido and ruler of Tyre, he was murdered by Dido's brother.
    • It is remembered that Dido "ruppe fede al cener di Sicheo". Inf. V, 62.
  • Sicilian bull: A brazen figure of a bull used as an instrument of torture. The echoing screams of its victims, roasting inside, were thought to imitate the bellowing of a bull. It was created by Perillus for the tyrant Phalaris. Its creator was also its first victim.
    • It "would always bellow with its victims voice". Inf. XXVII, 7–12.
  • Silvester I: A saint, he was Pope from 314 to 335. In the Middle Ages, supported by a forged document called the "Donation of Constantine", it was believed that he had baptized Constantine and cured him of leprosy, and as a result, that he and his successors had been granted rule over Rome and the Western Roman Empire. For Dante, this event was the beginning of the ever increasing worldly wealth and power of the papacy, and the corruption that went along with it.
    • "The first rich father!" Inf. XIX, 117.
    • Guido da Montefeltro compares Silvester being sought by Constantine to cure his leprosy, with himself being sought by Boniface to "ease the fever of his arrogance". Inf. XXVII, 94–95.
  • Simon Magus: The magician (or proto-Gnostic) of Samaria. In the Acts of the Apostles (8:9–24) he is rejected by the apostle Peter for trying to buy the ability to confer the Holy Spirit. From his name is derived the word Simony.
    • His followers "fornicate for gold and silver". Inf. XIX, 1–4.
  • Simonides: Greek poet of the 5th cent. B.C.E.
    • Resident of Limbo. Purg. XXII, 107.
  • Simony: Sin of selling or paying for offices or positions in the church hierarchy (cf. barratry).
    • One of the sins of ordinary fraud punished in the eighth circle. Inf. XI, 59.
    • Dante arrives in the 3rd Bolgia of the eighth circle where the Simoniacs are set upside-down in rock pits, with their exposed feet in flames. Inf. XIX, 1–117.
  • Siren: Seductive chimera, half-woman and half-bird, who lures sailors to shipwreck on rocks with her singing.
    • Appears to Dante in a dream. Purg. XIX, 7–33.
    • Beatrice tell Dante that other women are sirens on his spiritual journey. Purg. XXXI, 44.
  • "Sitiunt": ("They thirst.") Abbreviation of "Beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam quoniam ipsi saturabuntur." ("Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.") One of the Beatitudes preached by Jesus in Matthew 5.
    • Heard by Dante as he departed the terrace of the greedy in Purgatory. Purg. XXII, 6.
  • Socrates: Greek philosopher.
    • Encountered by Dante in Limbo. Inf. IV, 134.
  • Reginaldo Scrovegni: One of the richest Paduan bankers. In expiation of his father's sin, his son Enrico commissioned the Cappella degli Scrovegni in 1300 that was frescoed by Giotto.
    • Among the usurers. Inf. XVII, 64–75.
  • Sodom: Biblical city, which during the Middle Ages, became associated in Christian thinking with the "sin" of homosexuality. Sodomy, like usury, was viewed as a sin against nature.
    • Used to locate the sodomites as being punished in the last ring of the seventh circle. Inf. XI, 50.
    • "Sodom and Gomorrah" is recited penitentially by one group on the terrace of the lustful. Purg. XXVI, 40.
  • Solomon: Biblical king; son of King David; proverbially the wisest of men.
    • Not named, but called "the high mind blessed to know to such great depths, no second ever rose who saw so much" by Thomas Aquinas in the sphere of the Sun. Par. X, 109–114.
  • Spendthrift Club (Brigata Spendereccia): A group of rich young Sienese nobles, devoted to squandering their fortunes on foolish extravagances and entertainments. Arcolano of Siena was a member.
    • Four of its members described by Capocchio: "Stricca", "Niccolò", "Caccia d'Asciano" and "Abbagliato". Inf. XXIX, 125–132.
  • Sordello: 13th-century Italian troubadour, born in Goito near Virgil's home town Mantua.
    • In Purgatory he personifies patriotic pride. Purg. VI, 74.
  • Statius: Publius Papinius Statius (c. 45– c. 96). Roman poet of the Silver Age and author of the Silvae, the Achilleid and the Thebais.
    • Dante and Virgil encounter him in the level of Purgatory reserved for the avaricious, and he accompanies them on the rest of their trip through Purgatory. Purg. XXI–XXXIII.
    • In a story created by Dante, Statius tells how reading Virgil converted him to Christianity. There is no historical evidence that Statius was a Christian. Purg. XXII, 64–91.
  • Stricca: See Spendthrift Club.
  • Strophades: See Harpies.
  • Styx: One of the rivers encircling Hades in the Aeneid (VI, 187, 425).
    • Encountered and described. Inf. VII, 100–129.
    • Formed from the tears of the statue of the Old Man of Crete. Inf. XIV, 94–116.
  • "Summae Deus clementiae": ("God of highest mercy.") Latin monastic hymn sung on Saturday mornings. Its third verse calls on God to consume our loins with a fire of divine love.
    • Sung by souls on the terrace of the lustful in Purgatory. Purg. XXV, 121.
  • Swallow (Rondinella): Songbird. According to Ovid, Philomela, a princess from Athens, was raped by Tereus and then transformed into a songbird, generally identified as a nightingale.
    • Dante mentions the bird's song as a harbinger of dawn in Purgatory. Purg. IX, 14.
  • Sylvius: See Aeneas.
  • Syrinx: Mythological Greek nymph who, escaping her sexual defilement, fled to a river and was converted into a hollow reed which sang as the wind blew.
    • Alluded by Dante as the musical reason for his sleep in Paradise. Purg. XXXII, 66.

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