Posted on 03/01/2023 12:51:00 PM PST by CheshireTheCat
On an uncertain date in March 1289, fallen nobleman Ugolino della Gherardesca was immured in a Pisan tower with two sons and two grandsons — all doomed to starve to death and land in the Inferno.
In the dangerous Guelph vs. Ghibelline political landscape, Gherardesca had a knack for switching sides.
Originally a Ghibelline, he was banished once for plotting but returned with the support of Guelphs, and was made podesta to negotiate with Pisa’s Guelph enemies, Florence and Lucca.
Having made the unpopular but perhaps politically necessary decision to buy peace with Florence at the expense of territory and castles, Ugolino schemed to extend his own authority in Pisa, only to find himself hoisted on his own petard when onetime plotting-partner Archbishop Ruggieri Ubaldini had Ugolino and descendants seized for (wait for it) … treachery....
(Excerpt) Read more at executedtoday.com ...
“The Cask of Amontillado”?....................
Dante put Ugolino in the infernal ice lake reserved for the worst traitors to their country.
I took an art history class in college that covered this event and sculpture. The whole term was the Italian Renaissance and then next term was Natherlandish and Flemish. I would have changed my major from econ to art history if I thought there was any money in it.
We have a good friend who was an art history major. Actually taught it for a while. Then she got a divorce and realized she needed a real job. Got her accounting degree and became a CPA.
“For the love of God, Montressor!”😮
Spending some time in college with art and humanities electives was time well spent for me.
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