The City

Of The

Sun

Tommaso Campanella Campanella (1568–1639) was an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and astrologer. He wrote this utopian work while imprisoned by the Spanish Inquisition for heresy and sedition.

Characters:
A Sea Captain from Genoa Likely a reference to a contemporary of Christopher Columbus, representing the age of discovery.
The Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller A religious military order; the dialogue is framed as a report given to the Grand Master.

The City of the Sun is a vision of a society governed by reason and natural law.

The Captain describes a city on the island of Taprobana Historically identified as Sri Lanka, though used here as a mythical location for a perfect society., rising in seven circular rings named after the seven planets. At the very summit stands a magnificent temple dedicated to the Sun, which represents both the physical light of the world and the spiritual light of God.

The inhabitants are called "Solarins."

In this place, all things are held in common—there is no private property. The people are led by a philosopher-king known as "Hoh" or "Sun," assisted by three ministers: Pon (Power), Sin (Wisdom), and Mor (Love). These names are derived from the Italian words Potenza, Sapienza, and Amore.