In which bolgia are Thieves punished, and what unique aspect is associated with their plight?

The punishment for thieves in Dante's "Inferno" occurs in the eighth circle of Hell, specifically in the third bolgia. Thieves are uniquely punished by being transformed into snakes or having serpents coil around them. This metamorphosis reflects the underlying theme of their thievery: just as they stole from others, they are now being deprived of their human form. The transformation serves as both a consequence of their actions and a symbolic representation of their deceptive nature, making it fitting that they experience a punishment that involves constant change and chaos, mirroring the instability caused by their criminal acts.

The other options refer to different forms of punishment found in other parts of "Inferno." Being submerged in ice pertains to the frozen lake of Cocytus, where traitors are punished. Submerging in pitch applies to the corrupt and fraudulent, who are punished in a sticky tar-like substance. The idea of being trapped in a pit of fire is associated with various violent sinners, particularly in the circles for wrathful and blasphemers. Each of these punishments corresponds to different sins, but for thieves, the transformation into serpents is the defining aspect of their punishment.