Commentary Par XIX 101-102

This formulation might help clarify an issue that confuses some readers.  The Eagle is not so much a symbol of Roman imperium as it is of God's justice made apparent in this world in whatever embodiment it should happen to take.

Baranski (Bara.1995.4), p. 285, comments on the density of various words, like segno, connected to the concept of signification in this canto. However, while not in any way denigrating his point, one may point out that, if segno occurs twice in this canto (and in several others), it has occurred five times in Paradiso VI, a canto dedicated to the eagle of empire.