Commentary Par XXX 38-42

On these verses see Bortolo Martinelli (Mart.1985.1), pp. 113-14, arguing that the Empyrean is to be considered as having corporeal being.  Dante (in Conv.II.iii.8) has been interpreted as saying that this was indeed the case.  (Although there are those who do not hold to this opinion, finding that Dante attributes this opinion to 'Catholics' without necessarily embracing it himself, this would not mark the first time that Dante changed his mind about an opinion expressed in the Convivio).  Here, however, it seems totally clear that Dante is reiterating his thoughts about the triform Creation (see [Par XXIX 22-24]), which included pure form unalloyed with matter (i.e., the Empyrean and the angels).  As Aversano (Aver.2000.2), p. 151, points out, if the Primum Mobile is the largest material sphere in the heavens, that requires that the Empyrean not be material, for it contains (i.e., is larger than) all else.

It is quite striking, as Aversano points out, that after [Inf II 21] Dante never uses the word empireo again.  It had, in fact, appeared more often in the Convivio (twice: Conv.II.iii.8 and Conv.II.xiv.19).