What is a symbol in the inferno?

Answer 1

One symbol in Dante's Inferno is the Minotaur. He is the half-human, half-bull monster who is the guardian of the seventh circle of hell, the circle of those who were violent. He is a symbol of violence, but to understand why, an account of his existence must be given: King Minos of Crete's wife unnaturally lusted after a bull and hid inside a wooden cow so the bull would copulate with her. It came to pass and she conceived from the bull and gave birth to the Minotaur. Minos had a labyrinth built to hid the Minotaur's monstrosity and would sacrifice seven boys and seven girls a year for the Minotaur to eat. Eventually one boy managed to slay the Minotaur and escape. The Minotaur's entire existence and demise was of violent nature and so pervaded with blood that it was only appropriate that he serve as the symbol for those being punished within the circle he is guarding.