So after having read “Inferno” by Niven and Pournelle and by Dante Alighieri years ago, and “Escape from Hell” more recently, I got to wondering what part of Dante’s Hell Osama Bin Laden would be in?
He seems to qualify for several Bolgias, and at least one of the circles of Upper Hell.
I realize Hell is a religious concept but this seems like it’s more of a literary bent. And there’s no reason Cafe Society should miss out on the bin Laden fun. Moved from Great Debates.
I’d suspect he’d either be in the river of blood to his eyebrows (that’s boiling blood, by the way), or in the 7th circle, with the schismatics. More likely the river of blood, which is the punishment for the violent. The depth to which they are immersed in the river corresponds to the degree of violence.
The schismatics include the violent in the name of religion, but generally that applies to those who split off from other sects.
In “Escape from Hell”, Larry and Jerry also had suicide bombers wandering around Hell, randomly blowing themselves and their neighbors up – only to reform in the First Circle and have to work their way back to their proper places. Osama could become one of those.
Obviously, this last one was not in Dante’s version!
I’m also thinking Seventh Circle. Drowning in the Phlegethon - a river of boiling blood and fire that surrounds the Seventh Circle and the destination for those who commit crimes of violence against other people.
I wondered about the 9th Bolgia - the Sowers of Discord as well… that seems like it’s a little more horrible than the 7th circle.