← All characters

The Divine Comedy · Character

Pope Nicholas III

Simoniac pope punished head-down in a hole in Hell.

minor

Also known as Nicholas III, Nicholas

First appearance: Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III

Pope Nicholas III shows up with force in Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III. The page is where that presence becomes real.

A simoniac pope punished upside down in a hole, who mistakes Dante for Boniface VIII.
In the storyCanto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas IIIOpen this moment free

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

In Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III: A simoniac pope punished upside down in a hole, who mistakes Dante for Boniface VIII. Later, in Canto XXX: Not directly present, but Master Adam refers to the 'false…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Pope Nicholas III sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Pope Nicholas III in Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III

Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how Pope Nicholas III sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

GOGodfrey of Bou…DADavidDADante AlighieriPBPope Boniface …CMCharles MartelPNPope Nicholas III

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Sinners and Historical Figures
  • Heavenly Guides and Saints
  • Protagonist

+5 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this canto, the dramatic climax occurs when Dante, having been emboldened to ask Virgil to teach him the na…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

In the story

Pope Nicholas III appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Pope Nicholas III unlock in the free preview.

See Pope Nicholas III in Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III