What is ciacco?

Ciacco is a character in Dante Alighieri's "Inferno," which is the first part of the epic poem "Divine Comedy." Ciacco is a gluttonous soul who resides in the third circle of Hell, where the gluttons are punished for their sins by being forced to lie in a vile slush, constantly pelted by a cold and dirty rain. Ciacco is able to speak and engages in conversation with Dante, sharing insights into the state of Florence and its political turmoil that the poet finds shocking and disturbing. The character of Ciacco serves as a cautionary example of the consequences of overindulgence and the destructive nature of gluttony.