Dante Alighieri Timeline and Summary

•  Back
• More 

• Dante invokes Apollo and the Muses to help him remember and compose his poem.
• He and Beatrice arrive in the First Heaven: sphere of the Moon.
• Dante attempts to explain why there are moon-spots on the moon. Beatrice vigorously corrects him.
• Dante mistakes souls for reflections of corporeal spirits.
• Dante meets Piccarda Donati and learns about vows.
• Dante and Beatrice arrive in the Second Heaven: sphere of Mercury.
• He meets Justinian.
• They arrive in the Third Heaven: sphere of Venus.
• He meets Charles Martel and learns about providence.
• They arrive in the Fourth Heaven: sphere of the Sun.
• A crown of souls surrounds him and Beatrice.
• St. Thomas teaches him about St. Francis.
• St. Bonaventure teaches him about St. Dominic.
• St. Thomas teaches him about King Solomon and warns him against hasty judgments.
• King Solomon teaches him about the light of the souls.
• He and Beatrice arrive in the Fifth Heaven: sphere of Mars.
• He sees the starry Cross.
• Cacciaguida teaches Dante about his noble bloodline, ancient Florence, and his destiny.
• Dante is proud of his bloodline.
• He and Beatrice arrive in the Sixth Heaven: sphere of Jupiter.
• He sees the message about justice and watches the Eagle form.
• The Eagle teaches Dante about Divine Justice and introduces the six spirits in its eye.
• He and Beatrice arrive in the Seventh Heaven: sphere of Saturn.
• Dante sees the golden ladder and meets St. Peter Damian.
• Dante meets St. Benedict.
• He gazes down towards Earth.
• He and Beatrice arrive in the Eighth Heaven: sphere of the Fixed Stars.
• He witnesses the coronation of Mary and the re-ascent of Christ and Mary.
• St. Peter examines Dante on faith.
• St. James examines Dante on hope.
• St. John examines Dante on charity, while he is blind.
• Adam answers Dante's questions.
• He and Beatrice arrive in the Ninth Heaven: Primum Mobile.
• Dante witnesses the model of the nine Angelic Intelligences and Beatrice explains to him its relation to the material universe.
• Beatrice tells Dante the Creation story.
• They arrive in the Tenth Heaven: the Empyrean.
• Dante witnesses the Celestial Rose.
• Dante is surprised at Beatrice's disappearance and St. Bernard's appearance.
• St. Bernard explains the placement of the blessed in the Celestial Rose.
• St. Bernard prays on Dante's behalf to Mary to see God.
• Dante sees the image of God in the Holy Trinity.