The Phlegethon was the boiling river of blood that comprised the first part of the Seventh Circle of Hell. The centaurs are charged with tormenting souls here by dipping the caged sinners into the boiling river as well as shooting arrows at those who attempted to pull themselves out of the fiery blood. Among those was Nessus who allowed Dante to ride him across the river. The violent souls boiled within the depths of the blood. The souls like Alexander the Great and Attila the Hun are among those trapped here. According to Virgil, the river eventually flowed through the Eighth Circle and collected in the Ninth Circle where it froze to make Lake Cocytus.
Loot[]
Attila's Armor- From the corner of the furnace platform, the right part of the wall is broken and has a damned wall that you can climb down. Instead of heading straight down, go left to follow the wall around to a secret area within the centaur itself.
Silver Judas Coin-Found just below the Attila's Armor relic above, on the platform after the damned climb.
Silver Judas Coin- Found just before Wood of the Suicides, on the cliff to the left after crossing the river via the centaur's cages just before talking with Virgil.
Trivia[]
- In Greek mythology, the Phlegethon was one of the four rivers of the Underworld, known as the Fiery River. It is said to punish the wicked by healing them so they can endure more pain. Unlike the Inferno, the river is composed of fire alone, not blood.
- In "The Inferno", Dante described the River of Phlegethon as a river of boiling blood which the tyrants and murderers were submerged. Some are almost completely submerged under the river while others had only their feet scorched.
- The centaurs are made the guardians of this circle due to their association with wild and violent behavior. All centaurs who are descended from the mythological figure Kentauros were shown to be extremely erratic and uncontrollable. They were also known for their brutal wars with their human cousins, the Lapiths.
- Surprisingly, Chiron is placed here as another centaur guardian of the circle, although unlike all other centaurs, Chiron was renown for his wisdom, gentleness and healing arts. He displayed none of the violent tendencies which the centaurs are typically known.
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