The Classical Planets: Dante & The Liberal Arts
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:50 am
In Paradise of the Divine Comedy, Dante travels through the 10 heavenly dimensions called spheres, the first 7 being the classical planets. Dante links each planet to a certain group of blessed souls and one of the 7 liberal arts.
Moon:
The first heaven, the home of souls who broke their holy vows, hence they are as inconstant as the waxing and waning moon. The Moon represents Grammar, the most basic liberal art.
Mercury:
The second heaven, the home of souls who sought glory during their lives, but were righteous. Mercury represents Dialectic, which makes sense as Mercury often represents speech and exchange of ideas.
Venus:
The third heaven, the home of souls who were not temperate in love, but were still righteous. Venus represents Rhetoric, which the ancients paired with Eros.
Sun:
The fourth heaven, the home of wise souls, such as philosophers and theologians. The Sun represents Arithmetic.
Mars:
The fifth heaven, the home of noble warriors. Mars represents Music, as music is a form of strife where discord is transformed into harmony.
Jupiter:
The sixth heaven, the home of just rulers. Jupiter represents Geometry.
Saturn:
The seventh heaven, the home of contemplatives. Saturns represents Astronomy, the study involving the most distant and far-reaching objects.
There are more parings. The Fixed Stars, the eighth heaven, represents Physics. The Premum Mobile, the ninth heaven, represents Metaphysics. The Empyrean, the tenth and highest heaven, represents Theology.
Moon:
The first heaven, the home of souls who broke their holy vows, hence they are as inconstant as the waxing and waning moon. The Moon represents Grammar, the most basic liberal art.
Mercury:
The second heaven, the home of souls who sought glory during their lives, but were righteous. Mercury represents Dialectic, which makes sense as Mercury often represents speech and exchange of ideas.
Venus:
The third heaven, the home of souls who were not temperate in love, but were still righteous. Venus represents Rhetoric, which the ancients paired with Eros.
Sun:
The fourth heaven, the home of wise souls, such as philosophers and theologians. The Sun represents Arithmetic.
Mars:
The fifth heaven, the home of noble warriors. Mars represents Music, as music is a form of strife where discord is transformed into harmony.
Jupiter:
The sixth heaven, the home of just rulers. Jupiter represents Geometry.
Saturn:
The seventh heaven, the home of contemplatives. Saturns represents Astronomy, the study involving the most distant and far-reaching objects.
There are more parings. The Fixed Stars, the eighth heaven, represents Physics. The Premum Mobile, the ninth heaven, represents Metaphysics. The Empyrean, the tenth and highest heaven, represents Theology.