The Divine Comedy It is one of the classics of universal literature. Written at the beginning of the 14th century, it was the great poem of Dante Alighieri. In it, Dante himself, guided by the Roman poet Virgil and also by his beloved Beatrice, who represent reason and faith, travel through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. In we previously delved into Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell to find out what the poet imagined was in each of them. On this occasion we wanted to get closer to Dante’s Paradise to discover this part of The Divine Comedy and, especially, the nine divisions or spheres that he believed existed in that divine place. Come with us to get to know them! I’m sure you’ll want to look at the complete poem. 🙂
Dante’s Paradise and the 9 divisions of Heaven in the Divine Comedy
Freed from all sin, after passing through Purgatory, Dante ascends to Paradise with Beatrice. If Dante personifies humanity and the temptation of sin, while Beatrice is faith and will guide the poet through the spheres of Paradise until he reaches the Empyrean, the still space where he can contemplate God and his chosen ones forming the «Mystical Rose» or «Cándida Rosa». The «nine spheres» that make up Dante’s Paradise surround the Earth and are concentric. He himself admits that only he can see what his human eyes are capable of capturing.
The souls are placed in the sphere of Paradise what corresponds to them, although they are not prohibited from entering other spheres. Their place is marked by their moral evolution or ability to love God. As an added curiosity, in each of these divisions of heaven we find a type of angel according to the angelic hierarchy used in the Middle Ages. The spheres of Dante’s Paradise are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the fixed stars and the Primum Mobile.
1. The Sphere of the Moon
The sphere of the Moon, the first of the spheres of Dante’s Paradise, is related to inconstancy. Beatriz explains that in her there are those who, like the Moon, which has phases, change their minds even if they have been forced to do so. She places special emphasis on those who break sacred vows. The lower angelic category corresponds to it, that of the angels.
2. The Sphere of Mercury
The second is the sphere of Mercury. In it are the souls who did good only to achieve fame, but for this same reason they did not comply with the virtue of justice. Just as Mercury is insignificant next to the Sun, the glory that these souls had on Earth is nothing next to the Glory of God. It is supervised by the archangels.
3. The Sphere of Venus
The Third Sphere of Dante’s Paradise corresponds to Venus, and in it are those souls who were carried away by love and failed in the virtue of Temperance. The angelic hierarchy that corresponds to it is the Principalities.
4. The Sphere of the Sun
They dwell in it the souls of the wise men who helped illuminate the world in their intellectual aspect. It is the sphere of the Sun and finds Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Bonaventure and even King Solomon. All those who live there are examples of Temperance, Prudence, Justice, and Courage. The Powers are the angelic group assigned to this circle.
5. The Sphere of Mars
The fifth is the sphere of Mars and, in reference to the Greek god of war, it groups the souls of those who fought for Christianity. Those souls, in a constant dance, form a sparkling Greek cross. At this level, Dante meets his ancestor Cacciaguida and notable fighters such as Joshua, Roland, Charlemagne, and even Queen Guinevere. The Virtues are the angels found in this circle.
6. The Sphere of Jupiter
The Jupiter’s sphere brings together the souls who personified justice, especially among the rulers of Earth. They fly singing and forming the letters of «DILIGITE IUSTITIAM» and when they form the M, it symbolizes a gigantic imperial eagle. In it are, for example, King David, Constantine or Trajan. The angelic hierarchy of the Dominations presides over this division of Dante’s Paradise.
7. Sphere of Saturn
The seventh sphere is intended for the souls of those who led a contemplative life. Next to the angelic beings called Thrones We find figures like Saint Benedict or Saint Francis. In the sphere of Saturn, souls travel along a golden staircase.
8. The Sphere of Fixed Stars
The sphere of the Fixed Stars represents Faith, Hope and Love and St. John, St. Peter, and St. James the Apostle examine Dante on these topics. There are the triumphant spirits and among them the Virgin Mary stands out along with the archangel Saint Gabriel. The Cherubim are the angelic body assigned to this area of heaven.
9. The First Mobile Sphere
The ninth sphere is that of the «First Mobile.» It is the largest in the physical universe and is moved directly by God. All the other spheres move through it. It is the largest sphere of the physical universe. It is the residence of angels. It is presided over by the Seraphim.
10. The Empyrean
Finally, Dante contemplates the Empyrean. It is beyond the physical and is where God dwells. Dante is able to see it thanks to the light that surrounds him. He observes a large rose that is a symbol of divine love and where The souls of the blessed dwell there, including that of his beloved Beatrice. Beatriz takes her place in the Cándida Rosa or Mystical Rose and Dante is guided in his last stage by Saint Bernard. Dante comes into contact with God himself, whom he perceives as three identical circles representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Finally, after a ray of understanding, Dante’s soul enters into total harmony with divine love.
The Divine Comedy was a fundamental book for centuries and helps us understand the man of the time in which it was written and his circumstances. It also served to unite the Italian language and laid its foundations. Dante’s Paradise reflects medieval cosmology and the belief that the sky was composed of nine divisions or concentric spheres that surround the Earth. Do you know of any work of art that is based on or mentions the spheres of Dante’s Paradise? Have you read The Divine Comedy? What do you think of Dante’s vision of Paradise? Share your opinion with us!