This anide summarizes the literary tradition on the subject of the
celestial rise and fall of souls from its beginning till the Renaissance.
The author concen trates his attention on the role played by Greek
scholars, with special refirence to the innovations presented by Plutarch.
Once introduced the astral journey into the Christian eschatology, its
survival and passing on into the Middle Ages is assu red by late
commentators and scholars such as Servius, Macrobius, Boethius and
Martianus Capella. The Twelfi-h Centra)", with the School of Chartres,
means the literary revival of the classical theme which flourishes in
medieval literature and the first Italian Renaissance. The work ends
with two references to Castillian poetry, El laberinto de la Fortuna, by
Juan de Mena and El Dezir del nacimiento de Don Juan by Micer
Francisco Imperial, in whose structure underlies ibis tradition of the
celestial journey of souls.
