If You Retraced Dante's Steps, Who Would You Choose As Your Guide?

Question

Dante didn't get to pick his guide. Virgil just appeared to him at Beatrice's behest. If you had to retrace his steps in "The Inferno" (that's really the only one I am interested in), who would you pick as your guide and companion? Virgil was considered a righteous pagan, but you can choose anyone you want, as long as it's someone famous.

Please explain briefly why you would like the person you pick to be your guide, and how you think he or she would benefit you in your visit through Hell.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I would have chosen Athena or Homer. Athena would have been entertaining in Hell and Homer deserved to take Dante on the tour since Virgil was really following in Homer's footsteps. But in modern times, I would chose John Steinbeck to take me to Hell and back. Not particular reason, I just like his wit and what those poor people of the dust bowl faced in Grapes of Wrath was like going through Hell.
(My name is Beatrice because of Paradisio)

Answer 2

I'd choose Aristophanes accompanied with Euripides as body guard as we approach Persephone, the beautiful young maiden, just on the edge of womanhood, daughter of Demeter because she is a part-time resident in Hell, being the spouse of Hades. You sure can't retrace Dante's steps in Hell without the express permission of the Resident "maiden of the beautiful ankles."

Answer 3

I think I would choose Edward Gibbon, author of "Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire", just because he saw things in the broad sweep of history. But I am weird. Yeah. Me and Eddie, picnicking in Limbo with Socrates. Socrates would have wine and water, Edward would have orangeade with a bit of something, but I'd have a Coke. We'd talk.