The Ninth Circle Of Hell

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Instead of a fiery portrayal as in the rest of the circles, the deepest stratum of hell is icy and frozen. In the Ninth Circle of Hell, the sinners are either murderers or traitors, and their punishment reflects their depravity. In Round 3 of the this Circle, the murderers/traitors of guests are encased in ice, all except for half their faces above the ice and their tears creating a frosty layer covering their eyes. These sinners are part of the frozen lake, Cocytus, because their act of betrayal was voluntary and each cold soul is now too powerless to repent for their sins. Here, Friar Alberigo and Branca d’Oria committed such a sin of betrayal to their guests on Earth that their tormented souls are in Hell, while demons inhabit their bodies

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