Random Facts About Satan (11 items)

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  (#3) In 'Inferno,' Satan Is Trapped In A Waist-Deep Lake Of Ice At Hell's Center

  Many popular beliefs about Satan and Hell originated in Dante Alighieri’s first epic poem in his Divine Comedy, Inferno, which tells the story of Dante himself as he is guided by the Roman poet Virgil through the nine circles of Hell.

  When he reaches the final level, he finds Satan frozen in a lake of ice. As this contradicts popular interpretations of Hell as a place of fire, the image is a powerful one. It reinforces the idea that Satan is a prisoner in Hell rather than a ruler.

  Dante describes that Satan is trapped in ice from the waist down, with his head, torso, and wings free to move. Satan constantly flaps these wings in an attempt to escape, but the flow of air he creates is so cold, it keeps the ice frozen.
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  (#6) Satan's Entrapment In 'Inferno' Reveals That He's Not As Clever As Many Believe

  While Satan is often portrayed as a smooth-talking negotiator intent on tricking humans out of their souls, Satan's portrayal in Inferno is anything but. Portrayed as a giant brute, he has three faces, six wings, and is trapped in a frozen lake by his own doing.

  The constant beating of Satan's wings creates a frigid wind that keeps the ice frozen, and the text suggests that this is the mechanism that originally imprisoned him. If he stopped beating his wings, the ice might melt; however, he may not be able to move without flying. This frustrating paradox renders Satan more of a buffoon than a master manipulator.

   
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  (#10) Dante's Satan Is Hardly Even A Character In The Poet's Journey Through Hell

  Despite Inferno's significant buildup in preparation of Satan's appearance, the event passes without much fanfare. Dante and Satan don't interact, and while the Devil's three faces and bat wings look intimidating, he poses no real threat to either Dante or Virgil. 
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  (#8) Hell Is Satan's Punishment For His Actions In The Garden Of Eden

  According to the Bible, God created the Earth to be placed under humanity's reign. He created Adam and Eve to live in and watch over the Garden of Eden and provided them with free will. Satan became jealous of this seemingly preferential treatment and chose to subvert God's power by corrupting humanity.

  While Satan was originally meant to be humanity's mentor, he betrayed his wards, perhaps for the purpose of taking the Garden for himself. Whether he sought to rule or simply wanted to corrupt God's creation, he turned humanity against God, which served as the real reason he was cast out of Heaven and punished.
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  (#4) The Anticlimax Of Dante's Encounter With Satan Implies He Isn't Truly That Powerful

  Throughout Inferno, Satan is built up as one of the most powerful and malevolent beings in the universe. Dante's entire journey is centered around this climactic meeting, but once it occurs, the drama comes to a standstill.

  In Dante's poem, Satan isn't an all-powerful monster or a master manipulator - he's simply a fallen angel stuck in ice. His most deplorable action is devouring other cursed souls - a punishment thrust upon him by God. To reflect Satan's betrayal of God, this circle is reserved for those guilty of the same sin, and the souls the Devil devours are none other than the infamous traitors Brutus, Cassius, and Judas.
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  (#7) As Its Creator, God Is The True Ruler Of Hell

  Popular comparisons between God and the Devil as equals or rivals are hardly in keeping with the Bible's descriptions of the two figures. As God created the entire universe, including the Devil, He clearly wields more power.

  To that end, Hell's expressed purpose is the containment and punishment of Satan himself, lending further credence to the notion that Satan's reputation is simply a millennia-long misconception.

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