Tommaso Campanella: Heresy and Utopia in the City of the Sun
Giovan Domenico Campanella, known as Tommaso Campanella, was born on September 5, 1568, in Stilo and passed away in Paris on May 21, 1639. He faced accusations of heresy for his criticisms of Aristotle, leading to torture and trials in 1594 and 1595. After recanting, he was placed under confinement in a convent in 1597. Campanella orchestrated a rebellion in Calabria against Spanish authority, motivated by the prophecies of Joachim of Fiore, but was ultimately betrayed and re-imprisoned. Throughout 27 years of imprisonment, he authored significant works such as 'La Monarchia di Spagna' (1600), 'Aforismi Politici' (1601), 'Atheismus triumphatus' (1605-1607), 'Metaphysica' (1609-1623), 'Theologia' (1613-1624), and 'La città del sole' (1623), which depicted an ideal city ruled by a Priest-Prince named the Sun.
Key facts
- Tommaso Campanella was born in Stilo on September 5, 1568, and died in Paris on May 21, 1639.
- He was a Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian accused of heresy for opposing Aristotle.
- He was tortured and tried in 1594 and 1595, then confined to a convent in 1597.
- He led a conspiracy in Calabria against Spanish rule, inspired by Joachim of Fiore's prophecies.
- He was imprisoned for 27 years, during which he wrote 'La città del sole' (1623).
- His utopian city features a Priest-Prince called the Sun, over 35 years old.
- The city has seven circular walls representing different sciences, used for visual education.
- All religions coexist in the City of the Sun, with Christ, Muhammad, and other deities.
- The work is a dialogue between a Knight of Malta and Columbus's helmsman.
- Campanella's utopia draws on Plato's 'Republic' and Thomas More's 'Utopia'.
Entities
Artists
- Tommaso Campanella
- Aristotle
- Plato
- Thomas More
- Joachim of Fiore
- Marta Merigo
Institutions
- Artspecialday
- MIfacciodiCultura
Locations
- Stilo
- Italy
- Paris
- France
- Naples
- Calabria
- Taprobana