Dante's Inferno Canti 14-20

The description of the Old Man of Crete in Canto 14. How do you "read" this Old Man? You might use the note on pp. 555 - 7 of the Durling edition as a source of inspiration.

There are a few ways to interpret the Old Man in Canto 14. “His head is fashioned of refined gold, and of pure silver are the arms and breast; Then he is brass as far down as the fork. From that point downward all is chosen iron” (14, 106-109). The first interpretation comes from the Book of Daniel in the Bible. There were four beasts mentioned in this book. The lion had a golden head, the bear had arms of silver, the leopard had a “belly and thighs of brass,” and the four headed beast had iron legs, all like this Old Man. These four metals represent the fours ages in history: the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The golden head could stand for Babylon, the “holy city.” The legs of iron on the beast in Daniel and on the Old Man signify the Roman Empire, which was strong. Just like Babylon and the Roman Empire were strong, they both crumbled at one point, just like this Old Man is doing.
Although, it seems as if there is no hope with mankind declining, but the statue “…looks at Rome as if it were his mirror” (14, 105). Rome is in the west so there is hope for change and to be rebuilt just like Rome and Babylon.