The Divine Comedy, or La Divina Commedia, is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri around 1308-1320. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of world literature and the foundation of the Italian language. The poem is divided into three sections: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, and follows Dante's allegorical journey through the afterlife, accompanied by the ancient Roman poet Virgil and the virtuous Beatrice.