Commentary Inf XXIII 110-117

Dante's attention is drawn by the figure crucified upon the ground, attached through his hands and his conjoined feet. From Catalano's description it will become clear that this is Caiaphas, the high priest who urged the Pharisees 'that one man should be martyred for the people' and bears that burden of responsibility for the death of Jesus (see John 11:50). As Chiavacci Leonardi points out (Chia.1991.1, p. 696), Caiaphas masks his own vicious motives for wanting to give over Jesus as a desire for the public weal (i.e., saving the rest of the Hebrews from Roman repression), thus justifying his presence among the hypocrites.