Dante

Dante is a hidden figure whose influence reaches into the military, the homunculi, and the pursuit of the Philosopher’s Stone. She seeks to preserve her life through alchemy and is willing to manipulate or sacrifice others to do so. Her connection to the Elrics’ past makes her a personal as well as political threat, forcing them to confront the human cost of their search.

Dante spends most of the series appearing as Lyra, a fair-skinned young woman with long blond hair and light-colored eyes. In this guise, she wears modest, practical clothing suited to a traveling alchemist, rather than the formal uniform of the military. Her gentle expression and unassuming presence make her seem far less threatening than she is. The series eventually reveals that this is not Dante's original body, and that she has concealed her identity behind another person's appearance.

Dante is patient, calculating, and skilled at presenting herself as trustworthy. She often seems compassionate toward people seeking help, but treats their hopes and suffering as tools for her own plans. Her long experience makes her confident that she can manipulate both individuals and larger events without being discovered. She regards the pursuit of immortality as a justification for sacrificing others, and shows little concern for the homunculi beyond their usefulness. Dante is also practical about risk: she changes identities and abandons allies when their continued presence threatens her survival. Beneath her composed manner is a deep fear of death and the loss of the power she has accumulated.

Before the main events, Dante was an alchemist and the partner of Hohenheim. The two had a child who died, and their attempt to bring him back through human transmutation resulted in Envy. Dante and Hohenheim later discovered how to use a Philosopher's Stone to transfer a person's consciousness into another body. They repeatedly relied on this method to escape death, but their relationship broke down as Dante became increasingly willing to sacrifice other people to preserve herself. She went on to influence alchemists and homunculi while keeping her identity and continued existence hidden.

1. Early encounters in Youswell

   Dante first enters the story under the name Lyra, an aspiring alchemist whom Edward and Alphonse meet during their travels. She presents herself as an earnest young woman and offers help, giving the brothers little reason to suspect her true motives. Her appearance establishes the disguise that allows her to move through the story without attracting attention to her identity.

2. The search for the Philosopher's Stone

   As the brothers investigate the stone and the human cost behind its creation, Dante remains out of sight while her influence reaches into the homunculi's activities. She benefits from the Elrics' discoveries and from the confusion surrounding the stone. Her ability to guide events indirectly lets her avoid confronting the brothers until she has a plan for using what they uncover.

3. The truth about Dante

   The apparent Lyra is revealed to be Dante, an alchemist who has prolonged her life by transferring herself between bodies. Her history with Hohenheim and the homunculi explains why she has remained involved in the search for a Philosopher's Stone. The revelation recasts her earlier kindness as part of a carefully maintained disguise and exposes the self-preservation driving her actions.

4. Central and the final confrontation

   Dante works from the underground city beneath Central, where she tries to secure the Philosopher's Stone and use Alphonse in her plans. She faces Edward as he attempts to stop her and protect his brother. Dante's control over the homunculi and her knowledge of alchemy make her a formidable opponent, but her reliance on others ultimately leaves her vulnerable.

Hohenheim

Former partner

Dante and Hohenheim once shared a life and pursued alchemical knowledge together. Their child died, and their attempt to restore him led to Envy's creation. They later used the Philosopher's Stone to escape death, but Dante's willingness to sacrifice others drove them apart.

Envy

Created homunculus and son

Envy was created through the failed human transmutation of Dante and Hohenheim's dead child. Their connection gives Envy a personal reason to resent Hohenheim and shapes his involvement in Dante's plans. Dante nevertheless treats him as a useful instrument rather than as a child to protect.

Edward Elric

Opponent

Edward's investigation into the Philosopher's Stone eventually brings him into direct conflict with Dante. She regards his abilities and determination as potential assets, while he sees through her plans and fights to prevent her from exploiting Alphonse. Their conflict centers on the human cost of alchemy.

Lyra

Body used as a disguise

Dante takes over Lyra's body and uses her identity to move among alchemists without revealing who she is. The disguise helps Dante appear harmless and conceal her past. Lyra's own ambitions are displaced as Dante makes use of her appearance for her private purposes.

• She meets the Elric brothers while presenting herself as Lyra, an aspiring alchemist.
• Her identity as the alchemist Dante is exposed after she has spent much of the story concealed in Lyra's body.
• Her past with Hohenheim explains the origin of Envy and her pursuit of continued life.
• She attempts to use Alphonse and the underground city beneath Central to advance her plans.
• Her final confrontation with Edward ends with her losing control of the situation she had manipulated.

• Dante is the main antagonist of the 2003 anime continuity.
• Her public identity in much of the series is Lyra.
• Her history is closely tied to Hohenheim and the creation of Envy.
• Her plans depend on the Philosopher's Stone and the homunculi.

• Lust
• Envy
• Greed

• Edward Elric
• Alphonse Elric
• Winry Rockbell
• Roy Mustang
• Riza Hawkeye
• Scar
• Maes Hughes
• Izumi Curtis
• Gluttony

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