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Line 1: − + + − Heaven is made up of nine spheres, corresponding to the heavenly bodies visible from Earth that were known in Dante's time. Dante meets the [[soul]]s of the dead in each sphere, organised according to the good works they did while on Earth. Dante questions Beatrice on what he sees and is questioned by the inhabitants of [[Heaven]] as well. The nine levels of Heaven correspond to the [[Ptolemy|Ptolemaic]] view of the [[planet]]s' rotation around the Earth, and in each one Dante is shown a different category of souls: − Line 50:
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Justinian
[[Image:Paradiso Canto 31.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dante enters the Empyrean, the outer part of Heaven]]
[[Image:Paradiso Canto 31.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Dante enters the Empyrean, the outer part of Heaven]]
'''Dante's Paradiso''' is the third and last cantica in the [[Divine Comedy]] by [[Dante Alighieri]]. It tells of Dante's journey through [[Heaven]], with Beatrice as his guide, until he eventually reaches the edge of time and sees [[God]] Himself.
'''Dante's Paradiso''' is the third and last cantica in the [[Divine Comedy]] by [[Dante Alighieri]]. It tells of Dante's journey through [[Heaven]], with Beatrice as his guide, until he eventually reaches the edge of time and sees [[God]] Himself.
==Structure of Heaven==
==Structure of Heaven==
Heaven is made up of nine spheres, corresponding to the heavenly bodies visible from Earth that were known in Dante's time. Dante meets the [[soul]]s of the dead in each sphere, organised according to the good works they did while on Earth. Dante questions Beatrice on what he sees and is questioned by the inhabitants of [[Heaven]] as well. The nine levels of Heaven correspond to the [[Ptolemy|Ptolemaic]] view of the [[planet]]s' rotation around the Earth, and in each one Dante is shown a different category of souls:
[[Image:Ptolemaicsystem-small.png|right|thumb|250px|A Medieval diagram of the Earth and planets, showing the system used in the Paradiso.]]
[[Image:Ptolemaicsystem-small.png|right|thumb|250px|A Medieval diagram of the Earth and planets, showing the system used in the Paradiso.]]
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== Key figures ==
== Key figures ==
Paradiso is different from the Inferno and Purgatorio in that Dante speaks to far fewer people, and those who speak do so for much longer. In most spheres, Dante engages with one or two souls who act as representatives of all who are there, and almost entire cantos are often dedicated to these discourses.
Paradiso is different from the Inferno and Purgatorio in that Dante speaks to far fewer people, and those who speak do so for much longer. In most spheres, Dante engages with one or two souls who act as representatives of all who are there, and almost entire cantos are often dedicated to these discourses.
===Justinian===
In the sphere of Mercury, Dante meets the [[Byzantine]] Emperor [[Justinian]], who led a great campaign to reconquer parts of the western [[Roman Empire]], and also established a code of laws which still forms the basis of European law in the present day. Justinian speaks to Dante about justice, including how [[Jesus]]' sacrifice is able to atone for [[Adam]]'s sin, and how it can be just that the [[Jew]]s are ostracised for their role in the [[crucifixion]] when the events were to the benefit of mankind. (Here, Dante espouses the standard theology of his day; it should be noted that modern [[Christian]] doctrine does not 'blame' Jews for executing Jesus).
===Cacciaguida===
===Cacciaguida===