(The medieval Church's)laws against usury - charging interest on loans - were a major obstacle to the development of finance in Europe After all, what God-fearing Christian merchant wished to risk the torments of hell This astonishing vision of eternal damnation was painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari on the inside of the great dome of Florence's Cathedral, the Duomo And below there's another fresco by Domenico di Michelino of Florence's greatest poet, Dante Alighieri, holding his masterwork, the Divine Comedy According to Dante, there was a special part of the seventh circle of hell that was exclusively set aside for usurers There the moneylenders were eternally tortured with scorching earth and freezing snow their necks weighed down with bulging purses编辑于2024/01/09更新