Religion has proven throughout history to have a major influence in the development of ideas in various aspects of culture. Probably the most influential religion relating to the culture of literature and art would be Christianity. Christianity is currently the largest religion in the world and the influence it has on society is evident from the holidays celebrated around the world, to the customs it has created. One of the greatest influences Christianity has had lies in the form of literature, as evident in Dante's Inferno. The Inferno was written in the 14th century by Dante Alighieri and shows Dante traveling through his depiction of hell while being guided by the poet Virgil. In Dante's Inferno, there are nine levels and each level is worse than the previous one. Inferno is just one example of the great influence that Christianity has on literature, works of art, customs and politics in the world. The influence of Christianity on literature is not always as obvious as the customs or celebrations it brought to the world. , but it's just as important. The Bible is arguably the most important work of literature ever created, and the teachings from it continue to be taught today. The Bible was a major source of influence on Dante's Inferno and is displayed extensively throughout the story. The Inferno takes Dante's representation of hell from what is represented in the Bible. In Dante's version of hell, he shows that there are nine levels of hell and each level becomes progressively worse than the previous one. At the lowest level of hell is Lucifer who resides in the frozen river known as Cocytus. “Below each face spread two mighty wings, the size you might expect from this enormous bird: not a feather… in the center of the paper… a newer style of representing historical and religious moments. Much of the artwork created during this period clearly shows the influence Christianity had during this time period. Many artists have taken biblical stories and accounts and created their own artistic representations. Some of these works include the “Last Supper” painting and the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Through Hell, Dante is able to show the influence Christianity has on his writing. These influences are not limited to literature alone, as seen in aspects such as politics and customs. The influence of Christianity on Western civilization is undeniable and can be seen as the most important contribution to the development of the world as it has come to be known. Hell appears to be an example of the influence Christianity has had on a variety of others.