i canti finali dell'Inferno

In canto 29, lines 121-123, Dante pokes fun at the Sienese and at Siena. This, in my opinion is derrived from the long-standing rivalry between Florence and Siena.

"Now was there ever a people so foolsih as the Sienese? Certainly not the French, by far!" (Canto 29 lines 121-123).

I think Dante is referring to the spending habits of the Sienese. As we know, Siena was a very wealthy city during the Middle Ages, and is still wealthy (or at least expensive to live in) today.

In the notes on page 462, we learn that Dante was poking fun at the Sienese people for their vanity, being worse than that of the French.

On a translation note, the modern italian word for "sienese" is senese (it drops the I from Siena). Interestingly, in line 109, the name "Siena" appears in the original italian. But, when Dante is refering to the Sienese people as a collective, he uses the singular form la sanese (notice the singular feminine definate article article la) . When he is referring to the Sienese people as a plurality, he uses the plural form i sanesi (notice the plural masculine definate article i). Also, in this archaic form of italian, the word sanese appears, with an A, instead of the modern senese, with an E.

In the final canto of the Inferno, we get this stupid depiction of Satan, as this strange bird with three heads. It is certainly not expected, but I think the fact that it is not expected makes it seem scarier. Also because fo the fact that Lucifer is this bizzare creature, almost stupid, to me is scarier than some beast. In my opinion, bizzare and grotesque is much more frightening than just something ugly or strong with teeth.