Dante Alighieri was born in Florence, Italy, in 1265.¹⁾

He is best known for his epic poem, “The Divine Comedy,” which is considered one of the greatest works of world literature.²⁾

Dante wrote “The Divine Comedy” between 1308 and 1321, completing it shortly before his death.³⁾

“The Divine Comedy” is divided into three parts: Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and Paradiso (Paradise).⁴⁾

Dante wrote “The Divine Comedy” in Italian, which was unusual for the time, as most literature was written in Latin.⁵⁾

Dante's use of Italian helped to standardize the language and had a significant impact on the development of Italian literature.⁶⁾

He was exiled from Florence in 1302 due to his political activities and spent the rest of his life wandering Italy.⁷⁾

Dante's political beliefs were strongly influenced by the Guelphs, a faction that supported the papacy in its power struggles with the Holy Roman Emperor.⁸⁾

Despite being exiled from Florence, Dante remained fiercely loyal to his hometown and longed to return.⁹⁾

Dante's exile played a significant role in shaping his worldview and influenced much of his writing, including “The Divine Comedy.”¹⁰⁾

In “The Divine Comedy,” Dante encounters various historical and mythological figures, as well as contemporary individuals, as he journeys through the afterlife.¹¹⁾

Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory is the Roman poet Virgil, whom he greatly admired.¹²⁾

Beatrice Portinari, a woman Dante loved from afar in his youth, serves as his guide through Paradise.¹³⁾

Dante's depiction of Hell in “The Divine Comedy” is highly imaginative and has had a profound influence on Western art and literature.¹⁴⁾

The famous line “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here” is from Dante's “Inferno” and is inscribed above the entrance to Hell.¹⁵⁾

Dante's vision of Hell is structured around the concept of contrapasso, where sinners are punished in a manner fitting their crimes.¹⁶⁾

In “Purgatorio,” Dante explores the concept of redemption and the process of purifying the soul before entering Paradise.¹⁷⁾

“Paradiso” depicts Dante's journey through the celestial spheres, culminating in his vision of the divine presence of God.¹⁸⁾

Dante's depiction of Heaven is highly symbolic, with each sphere representing a different virtue or aspect of divine love.¹⁹⁾

Dante's portrayal of Beatrice in “Paradiso” reflects his idealized vision of love and beauty.²⁰⁾

Dante's political treatise, “De Monarchia,” argues for the separation of church and state and the importance of a universal monarchy to maintain peace.²¹⁾

He also wrote numerous sonnets and other poems, many of which were inspired by his unrequited love for Beatrice.²²⁾

Dante's work had a significant impact on later Italian poets, including Petrarch and Boccaccio, as well as writers from other countries.²³⁾

His influence extended to the visual arts, with many artists, including Botticelli and Gustave Doré, creating illustrations for “The Divine Comedy.”²⁴⁾

Dante's tomb is located in Ravenna, Italy, where he spent the final years of his life.²⁵⁾

His epitaph reads, “Dante Alighieri, a Tuscan poet, illustrious in his poetry, lies here.”²⁶⁾

Dante's legacy extends beyond literature to philosophy, theology, and political thought.²⁷⁾

He is often referred to as the “Father of the Italian language” due to his role in standardizing and popularizing the Tuscan dialect.²⁸⁾

Dante's influence on the Italian language is so profound that modern Italian is sometimes called “the language of Dante.”²⁹⁾

He is also known as the “Supreme Poet” (il Sommo Poeta) in Italy.³⁰⁾