What form of punishment do False Counselors face in Circle 8?

In Dante's "Inferno," the False Counselors are punished in Circle 8 of Hell, known as Malebolge, specifically in the eighth pouch. Their punishment involves being engulfed in flames. This imagery represents the deception and betrayal for which these souls are being punished. The flickering flames symbolize not only the false light of their misleading counsel but also the torment they experience for their sins during their earthly lives. Being hidden by fire serves to highlight their fraudulent nature! Since they misused their intelligence to deceive others, the fire symbolizes the destructive nature of their actions.

The other forms of punishment mentioned do not accurately reflect the specific fate of the False Counselors in Dante's narrative. Thus, the choice of being hidden by fire thoughtfully connects to the themes of deception, suffering, and poetic justice that permeate Dante's work.