Which group in Circle 8 is punished by having their heads turned backwards?

In Dante's Inferno, Circle 8, which is reserved for various forms of fraud, the group that suffers the punishment of having their heads turned backwards is the soothsayers. This punishment serves as a symbolic representation of their attempts to see into the future and manipulate knowledge. By having their heads twisted around, they are eternally forced to look backwards, which obstructs their ability to see what lies ahead, mirroring their deceitful practices during their lives.

Dante uses vivid imagery to describe the penalties assigned to the different groups in this circle, reflecting the nature of their sins. The soothsayers, who claimed knowledge and foresight, are ironically punished by being denied the ability to look forward, emphasizing the futility and consequences of their actions. This choice aligns with Dante's overarching theme of divine justice, where the punishment fits the crime, a concept central to the structure of infernal retribution throughout the poem.