ABSTRACT
From Columbus's perspective, the question is most simply framed in terms of "Why me?" This question, however is important not only to understanding how Columbus interpreted the outcome of his enterprise but also how other stakeholders perceived his enterprise. Columbus's study was not undertaken in a culture inimical to the notion of divine revelation or hostile to prophets. It is pointless to speculate whether Columbus might have heard the voice of God or indulged it had he been based in England or France. Dante's poetic influence was not confined to Italy and was, in fact, an important feature of the cultural ambience in which Columbus was undertaking his study of "otras artes." Imperial's poetry, therefore, offers a sailor such as Columbus a reason to adopt Dante as a guide to the "otherworld." For Columbus then the voice of God calling him to journey might just as well have been Dante's.
