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In the Heaven of Jupiter, instead of being approached by individual souls, Dante sees all the souls of the righteous rulers grouped together in the shape of an [[eagle]] (the emblem of the Roman Empire). All the rulers speak to him with one voice, lamenting how the kings and emperors of the current time revere their virtuous forebears, but do not heed their example. In the eagle's eye is [[David]], considered the greatest ruler, and around the eye are five others: [[Constantine|Constantine the Great]], [[Hezekiah]], [[William the Good]], [[Trajan]], and the [[Trojan]] king [[Ripheus]].  

In the Heaven of Jupiter, instead of being approached by individual souls, Dante sees all the souls of the righteous rulers grouped together in the shape of an [[eagle]] (the emblem of the Roman Empire). All the rulers speak to him with one voice, lamenting how the kings and emperors of the current time revere their virtuous forebears, but do not heed their example. In the eagle's eye is [[David]], considered the greatest ruler, and around the eye are five others: [[Constantine|Constantine the Great]], [[Hezekiah]], [[William the Good]], [[Trajan]], and the [[Trojan]] king [[Ripheus]].  

These last two are surprising inclusions, as they were neither [[Christian]]s nor pre-Christian Jews; it is explained that Trajan was saved by [[hope]] and Ripheus by [[love]] even though they did not know of Jesus. This is one of the more complex points in Dante's theology, as he appears to believe that Christ is not a ''sine qua non'' for [[salvation]]: rather, Christian virtues are, and while these are almost always found in Christ, it is possible to find them elsewhere.

These last two are surprising inclusions, as they were neither [[Christian]]s nor pre-Christian Jews; it is explained that Trajan was saved by [[hope]] and Ripheus by [[love]] even though they did not know of Jesus. This is one of the more complex points in Dante's theology, as he appears to believe that Christ is not a ''sine qua non'' for [[salvation]]: rather, Christian virtues are, and while these are almost always found in Christ, it is possible to find them elsewhere.  This is in line with the dogma Catholic Church, as the Church teaches that individuals who live a christlike life, but could not reasonably discover Jesus (IE: Christs teachings had never been brought to an area of the world, such as pro Columbian America).  It is unclear, however, if Trajan and Ripheus fit this criteria.

== Towards the Empyrean ==

== Towards the Empyrean ==