Dante Alighieri

The man who brought the future to the world

Who is he?

Dante Alighieri is a writer considered to be the bridge between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as the father of Italian language.

Why is he an overman?

Dante revolutionized the literature and culture overall of his time. His Divine Comedy combines poetry, philosophy, politics and personal experiences. This book was the first step that led to a new era of progress in Europe.

Dante dared to wander into Hell, the Purgatory and Heaven at a time when only the clergy was allowed to interpret these realms. He created an entirely new type of relationship between the earthly human and the spiritual world.

Curious facts:

Dante was exiled from Florence for political reasons but years later the city realized his significance and took action to return his remains so that it could honor him. However, Franciscan monks hid his bones inside a wall in Ravenna to prevent them from being taken. The bones were accidentally rediscovered in 1865.

Important work:

The Divine Comedy

Short biography:

1265 – 14 September 1321

Dante was born in a minor noble family from Florence and received a good education in literature, philosophy, and theology. His talent in writing showed from an early age. His poetry was influenced by classical writes, particularly by Virgil.

Dante’s emotional world was deeply influenced by Beatrice Portinari. They only had minor interactions, but she remained a symbol of divine love and spiritual guidance for him throughout his life. Dante married Gemma Donati, with whom he had several children.

Active in the political life of Florence, Dante supported the White Guelph faction and held several public offices. However, the conflicts between the White and Black Guelphs caused him to go into exile. He spent the next part of his life travelling through different Italian courts. In this period, he wrote The Divine Comedy. Dante died in Ravenna after suffering from an illness, probably malaria.