Why does Dante Choose the Roman Poet Virgil as His Guide Through Hell?

"Then you are Virgil? Are you the font that pours

So overwhelming a river of human speech?" (Dante, lines 61-62)

As Dante chooses Virgil as his guide through hell, he is setting his Commedia up as an insta-classic. Virgil's works were highly revered among medieval Florence, and in saying that Vigil is the guide of Dante, the journeyer, Dante is sort of saying that Virgil is the symbolic guide of the poet Dante. Any works done in the guidance of Virgil would be classics (Not to mention Dante borrows Virgil's concept, landscape and characters of Hell). Dante is placing himself amongst the greats by referencing and including Virgil, the great.

In addition when considering Virgil's role in the Inferno, it is important to note the role of a guide. A guide pushes the traveler. The guide helps and well guides... The guide does not create the exact experience of the traveler, rather he sets the journeyer up in a better position to better experience the journey. Dante consatnly places Virgil under "the false gods who lied" . Perhaps by giving Virgil the role of guide, Dante is stating that he is taking off were Virgil left off. Dante's works are the Christian classic and the only way he could have got to writhing the Christian classic was by standing on the pre-established shoulders of Virgil.