Who is identified as a sower of discord that led people astray in Dante's Inferno?

In Dante's Inferno, the character identified as a sower of discord is Mahomet, a reference to Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. In the context of Dante's work, those who sow discord are punished in the Eighth Circle of Hell, specifically in the section dedicated to those guilty of schism and heresy.

The punishment for sowers of discord involves being mutilated and torn apart as a representation of the strife they caused in life. Mahomet is depicted in the poem as someone who led others astray through the creation of sects and divisions, reflecting Dante's perspective on conflict and division among religious and political groups in his time.

The other figures mentioned—Virgil, Beatrice, and Dante himself—do not fit the description of a sower of discord. Virgil serves as Dante's guide through Hell and represents reason and wisdom. Beatrice symbolizes divine love and grace, playing a crucial role in guiding Dante towards redemption. Dante, as the protagonist and author, is exploring and critiquing the moral state of humanity through the journey in Inferno, but he is not labeled a sower of discord in the narrative.