The terraces of Mount Purgatory, starting at pride and moving up beyond lust to the final staircase of the climb. Here are the episodes for PURGATORIO, Cantos X through XXVII, from the moment the pilgrim realizes what’s at stake until the climax of Virgil’s character in the poem. The episodes are in reverse order, so scroll to find what you want.

Posts tagged Garden of Eden

PURGATORIO, Episode 212. The Third And Final Dream On Mount Purgatory: PURGATORIO, Canto XXVII, Lines 91 - 108

Our pilgrim, Dante, has lain down on a step of the final staircase of Mount Purgatory, with Statius just below him and Virgil just above him. As he gazes at the bright and large stars, he suddenly falls asleep and has this third dream in PURGATORIO, this one about Leah (and her sister Rachel) in a garden like Eden, gentle and calm compared to his other dreams on the mountain.

Mark ScarbroughSeptember 28, 2025Purgatorio XXVII, Purgatorio, Purgatory, The terrace of lust, The climb, Dreams, Desire, Garden of EdenComment

PURGATORIO, Episode 192. Of Mythic Trees, Human Desire, And Ceremonial Solace: PURGATORIO, Canto XXIV, Lines 100 - 129

Our pilgrim Dante, Virgil, and Statius pass on along the sixth terrace of Mount Purgatory and come to a tree that's a seedling from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. It shakes them up a bit and offers a classical and a Biblical example of the problems with gluttony.

Mark ScarbroughJuly 20, 2025Purgatorio XXIV, Purgatorio, Purgatory, The terrace of gluttony, Garden of EdenComment