Have prophets truly disappeared from human history, or has modern civilisation simply changed the way it recognises visionary voices? From the revelations of Muhammad to the poetic cosmology of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, this article explores prophecy as the power to translate spiritual vision into language that shapes civilisation, culture and collective meaning.

In an age of unprecedented technological progress and material prosperity, many individuals experience a profound erosion of meaning. By revisiting luminous periods of civilisation—from classical Athens and the Pax Romana to the Renaissance and post-war Europe—this article explores how societies flourish when prosperity aligns with shared values, philosophical depth, and cultural vision, and reflects on the urgent contemporary search for purpose.