Biblical figures
Saul
King of Israel mentioned by Dante in Purgatory in relation to his death by his own hand and the curse upon the mountains of Gilboa, an example of punished pride.
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Saul is recalled by Dante in Purgatory (XII 40) with the words «O Saùl, come in su la propria spada», within the cornice of the proud. The annotation to Canto XII, v. 42, clarifies that the reference concerns the death of Saul, God's elect killed on the mountains of Gilboa, and recalls David's lament in 2 Samuel 1, 21: «O monti di Gelboè, né rugiada né pioggia scendano più su di voi», interpreted by Dante as a punishment of the arrogance of those mountains and thus a figure of punished pride. The note also points out that the curse is considered to have been fulfilled, constituting a further biblical example of the same exemplary series in which the mention of Saul is placed.
In the text
Linked verses
1 verses| Cantica | Canto | Verso | Testo | Open verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purgatory | Canto XII | 40 | O Saùl, come in su la propria spada | Open verse |