Which figure guards the entrance to the seventh circle of Hell?

The figure that guards the entrance to the seventh circle of Hell is the Minotaur. In Dante's Inferno, the seventh circle is designated for those who have committed violence, and it is divided into three rings, each addressing a specific type of violence. The Minotaur symbolizes the bestial nature of violence and is a fitting guardian for this part of Hell, as it is a hybrid creature born of both human and animal, illustrating the theme of primal savagery.

In Dante's narrative, the Minotaur is described as being trapped in a labyrinth of violence, echoing its mythological origins, and it represents the brutality that characterizes the souls condemned to this circle. The Minotaur aggressively protects the boundary of this horrific realm, menacing those who attempt to cross into the deeper circles of Hell, reinforcing the significance of violence in sin and punishment.

Each of the other figures mentioned plays a relevant role in Dante's Inferno, but they are associated with different circles or themes. For instance, Cerberus is the guardian of the third circle, which punishes the gluttonous, while Charon transports souls across the Styx and is present at the entrance of Hell, and Beelzebub represents the prince