‘It is the eternal light of Siger,
who, instructing in the Street of Straw,
demonstrated enviable truths.’
vv. 136-138
Ascent to the Sun.—Spirits of the wise, and the learned in theology.—St. Thomas Aquinas.—He names to Dante those who surround him.
Dante begins this canto with a rapturous meditation on the “clear order” of the created universe. He marvels at “the skill / the Master [i.e., God] demonstrates” in ordering all things, from the orbits of planets to the meanderings of thought. Then, turning abruptly back to his narrative, he describes his ascent to the sphere of the sun, out of Earth’s shadow, the fourth level of Paradise. The souls here array themselves around Dante and Beatrice in a ring or halo, singing a song Dante lacks the words to describe. The first soul to address Dante in this sphere is Thomas Aquinas (1224–74), the Dominican priest best known as the author of Summa Theologiae (“Summation of Theology”). Thomas proceeds to identify several philosophers, theologians, and historians from among the other souls present, briefly noting the achievements of each. The roster is impressive and wide ranging, including figures from the 4th century and through Dante’s own time.
Riassunto in inglese tratto da https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Paradise/
Palazzo Corradini is the facility serving students, teachers and researchers at the Department of the Cultural Heritage (DBC) and on degree programmes at the schools operating in Ravenna: Law; Engineering and Architecture; Arts, Humanities and Cultural Heritage; Medicine and Surgery; Science (Technologies and Diagnostics for conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, Science for the conservation & restoration of the cultural heritage) and Political Science.
Siger de Brabant was a philosopher and Professor at a Faculty of the Sorbonne in Paris – the latter is mentioned as “Vico de li Strami” from the straw students sat on. Dante sees him among the wise spirits of Paradiso, although he has been accused of heresy as a follower of Averroes. His dualism of faith and reason, the theory of which is extremely modern, must have appealed to the Poet who, as we all know, exhorted people to follow virtue and knowledge.
Traduzione a cura della classe 5aC A.S.20/21 del Liceo Scientifico A. Oriani di Ravenna
Canto adopted by Associazione Culturale Ravenna Centro Storico RCS
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