{"id":16,"date":"2018-06-18T15:50:43","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T19:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/?page_id=16"},"modified":"2025-07-17T15:27:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:27:45","slug":"crafting-a-cosmos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/","title":{"rendered":"Crafting a Cosmos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Crafting a Cosmos<\/h1>\n\n\n<nav style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"is-responsive wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-db721894 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"sections\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.openMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M4 7.5h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><path d=\"M4 15h16v1.5H4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container\"  id=\"modal-1\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--has-modal-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--is-menu-open=\"state.isMenuOpen\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\"\n\t\t\t\ttabindex=\"-1\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-modal=\"state.ariaModal\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.ariaLabel\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--role=\"state.roleAttribute\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.closeMenuOnClick\"\n\t\t\t><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"m13.06 12 6.47-6.47-1.06-1.06L12 10.94 5.53 4.47 4.47 5.53 10.94 12l-6.47 6.47 1.06 1.06L12 13.06l6.47 6.47 1.06-1.06L13.06 12Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" \n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-watch=\"callbacks.focusFirstElement\"\n\t\t\t id=\"modal-1-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__container is-responsive wp-block-navigation\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Crafting a Cosmos<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/mapping-hell-cartography-and-the-comedy\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Mapping Hell<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/dante-and-the-new-world\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Dante &amp; the New World<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/infernal-geometry\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Infernal Geometry<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/stars-and-moonspots-dantes-astronomy\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Stars &amp; Moonspots<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/envisioning-the-heavens-purgatory-and-paradise\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Envisioning the Heavens<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/archeology-and-mathematics-dante-in-the-19th-century\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Archeology &amp; Mathematics<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/hells-beasts-and-bodies-the-anatomy-of-hell\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Hell\u2019s Beasts &amp; Bodies<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item  menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/women-authors-of-science-and-the-comedy\/\" title=\"\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Women Authors of Science &amp; the Comedy<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:46px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>To explain that infernal theater, it was necessary to have a geographer and architect of the most sublime judgment, as, in the end, our Dante has proved. If he who so sublimely developed the wonderful construction of the heavens, and so exquisitely designed the place of the earth, was reputed worthy the name of divine, then for the reasons already given, hasn&#8217;t our Poet earned that name yet again?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong>\u2014Galileo, 1588<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-acc8bb78 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\" style=\"background-color:#faf3e6\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/dxx_aeon2394_3s-110md\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-34\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1117\" height=\"1701\" src=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2018\/06\/Dxx_AEON2394_3S-110md.jpg\" alt=\"Liber chronicarum\" class=\"wp-image-34\" style=\"width:200px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>1. <em>Liber chronicarum<\/em><\/strong><br>Hartmann Schedel (1440\u20131514)<br>Nuremberg, Germany: Anton Koberger, for Sebald Schreyer and Sebastian Kammermeister, 1493<br>Brown University Library, Annmary Brown Memorial Collection<br>Rubricated, with painted capitals at the beginning of the table and text<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/d12_aeon2318_1s-b1529m\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-48\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"817\" height=\"1230\" src=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2018\/06\/D12_AEON2318_1S-B1529m.jpg\" alt=\"Comedia di Danthe Alighieri Poeta Divino: con l\u2019Espositione di Christophoro Landino [Comedy of Dante Alighieri Divine Poet: with the Commentary of Cristoforo Landino]\" class=\"wp-image-48\" style=\"width:200px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>2. <em>Comedia di Danthe Alighieri Poeta Divino: con l\u2019Espositione di Christophoro Landino<\/em> [Comedy of Dante Alighieri Divine Poet: with the Commentary of Cristoforo Landino]<\/strong><br>Dante Alighieri (1265\u00ad\u20131321)<br>Venice, Italy: Jacopo Borgofranco for Lucantonio Giunti, 1529<br>Brown University Library, Chambers Dante Collection<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/dxx_aeon3814_3s-ms3m-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-38\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"899\" height=\"1242\" src=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2018\/06\/Dxx_AEON3814_3S-MS3m-1.jpg\" alt=\"Leaves from a Neapolitan Antiphonary\" class=\"wp-image-38\" style=\"width:200px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>3. Leaves from a Neapolitan <em>Antiphonary<\/em><\/strong><br>Manuscript on parchment, 14th Century<br>Brown University Library, Annmary Brown Memorial Collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/d11_aeon3798_pq4621-d5-m3m\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-53\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"953\" height=\"1278\" src=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2018\/06\/D11_AEON3798_PQ4621-D5-M3m.jpg\" alt=\"I marmi del Doni\" class=\"wp-image-53\" style=\"width:200px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>4. <em>I marmi del Doni<\/em><\/strong><br>Anton Francesco Doni (1513\u00ad\u20131574)<br>Venice, Italy: Francesco Marcolini, 1552\u00ad-3<br>Brown University Library, Hay Star Collection<br>Woodcut group portrait of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Dante\u2019s <em>Comedy<\/em> allows readers to experience the three realms of the medieval Catholic otherworld: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante\u2019s cosmology was profoundly influenced by Greek and Islamic philosophies that he encountered in translations and commentaries. The structure of the universe featured in the <em>Comedy<\/em> was fundamentally Aristotelian, with a central Earth surrounded by planets, constellations and fixed stars. The <em>Liber chronicarum<\/em> <strong>(1)<\/strong> shows the order of the heavenly spheres according to this model, but adapted to the Christian theology. From the shores of Purgatory, the stars and signs of the heavens can also be observed through the eyes of Dante and Beatrice, his beloved and guide in Paradise, as seen in the opening illustration of <em>Paradiso<\/em> in a 1529 edition of the <em>Comedy<\/em> <strong>(2)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Dante\u2019s cosmos views geometry as a way to understand God\u2019s perfection on earth and in the heavens. Illustrations of the Bible further illuminate our understanding of Dante\u2019s universe. Along the left border of this 14th century Antiphonary, a book of liturgical music, the story of creation unfolds <strong>(3)<\/strong>. The first day, along the left border, portrays God the Geometer. Dante refers to this image in his description of God: \u201cHe who revolved the compasses about the limit of the world and within it distinguished so much, both hidden and manifest\u201d (<em>Paradiso<\/em> 19.40\u201342). The harmony, symmetry and proportion seen in the world reveal the divinity of God on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The sublime construction of the <em>Comedy<\/em> makes Dante a divine architect himself: The creator of a cosmos. Dante as an architect, geographer and poet is visually expressed in this 16th century woodcut <strong>(4)<\/strong> of the <em>tre corone<\/em> or three crowns: Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio. In a display of his scientific knowledge and literary status, Dante touches the celestial globe to teach his fellow poets about the principles of the universe. The globe may also refer to the author\u2019s virtuosity in crafting the landscape of the \u201cinfernal theatre,\u201d that so inspired Galileo and others to map, measure and illustrate Hell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:23px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crafting a Cosmos To explain that infernal theater, it was necessary to have a geographer and architect of the most sublime judgment, as, in the end, our Dante has proved. If he who so sublimely developed the wonderful construction of the heavens, and so exquisitely designed the place of the earth, was reputed worthy the <a href=\"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/crafting-a-cosmos\/\" class=\"more-link\">&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Crafting a Cosmos<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-full-width-no-menu.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-16","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16"}],"version-history":[{"count":90,"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":419,"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions\/419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/library.brown.edu\/create\/poetryofscience\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}