abandon all hope ye who enter here

The phrase "abandon all hope ye who enter here" is a famous line from Dante Alighieri's epic poem "Inferno," which is part of his larger work called "The Divine Comedy." It is inscribed on the entrance to Hell, specifically on the gate leading into the Ninth Circle, the lowest and most severe section of Hell where the souls of the most wicked are punished. The phrase serves as a warning to those who are about to enter Hell, indicating that they should relinquish all hope as there is no chance for redemption or escape from the depths of suffering and punishment that await them. It signifies the absolute despair and hopelessness that characterize the damned souls in this particular realm of eternal damnation. The line has since become a well-known metaphor for any situation or circumstance that appears to be utterly hopeless or irreversible.