Commentary Purg XXIX 115-120

This chariot is not only more splendid than those awarded either to Scipio Africanus (185-129 B.C.), conqueror of Hannibal and destroyer of Carthage, or to the great Augustus himself (63 B.C.-A.D. 14), the emperor at the 'fullness of time,' when Christ was born in a world at peace under the rule of Augustus.  Dante goes still further: this chariot makes the sun, become a chariot for Phaeton's wild misadventure (Metam. II.47-324), seem a poor thing by comparison.  It is striking that this third chariot involves a tragic event -- Phaeton's death -- while the first two are used to glorious purpose.  We are reminded of God's mercy and of his justice.

      That the most significant element in the procession is a triumphal chariot makes it difficult not to see that this pageant represents the Church Triumphant, i.e., the Church as it shall be in eternity.  It is only in Purgatorio XXXII that we shall observe a representation of the Church Militant.  There is a resemblance in this rhythm to that which we have experienced on all the seven terraces, namely exempla of the opposed virtue preceding those of the vice to be purged.  Here the perfected Church precedes its temporally prior and persecuted self in all its tribulations.  For this observation, see Lansing (Lans.1994.1), pp. 106-8.