List of Cultural References in Divine Comedy - U

U

• Ugolino della Gherardesca: Leader of one of two competing Guelph factions in Pisa. In 1288 he conspired with the Archbishop Ruggiere degli Ubaldini to oust the leader of the other faction, his grandson Nino de' Visconti. Ugolino was, in turn, betrayed by Ruggiere and imprisoned with several of his sons and grandsons. They all died of starvation in prison.
  • Found with Ruggiere amongst those damned for treason. Inf. XXXII, 124–XXXIII 90.
• Ulysses: See Odysseus.
• Usury: The practice of charging a fee for the use of money; viewed by the medieval church as a sin because it went contrary to the idea that wealth is based on natural increase, which was believed to be a gift from god.
  • Explained by Virgil to Dante. Inf. XI, 97–111.
  • The usurers are punished in the seventh circle Inf. XVII, 34–75.
• Urania: The ancient Muse of Astronomy. She became the Muse of poets describing sacred themes.
  • Dante invokes her in Purg. XXIX, 41.