Why Dante?

Dante's Inferno has lasted through the centuries for many reasons, one being all the different elements and themes. Christianity is the most broad of these. Dante provides very specific images to what was previously left to the imagination. The different circles of Hell become more real and more frightening. Some may fear these sorts of punishments for their sins while others may find the hypocrisy in it all. Because religion itself and Christianity specifically aren't going anywhere, stories dealing heavily with the subject (like Dante's) are likely to attract readers no matter what the time period. Dante's Inferno is both a look into the past as well as something that can be applied to events today. Specific names and events mentioned in the story relate to Dante's era; however, the ideas presented with these events can be related to present day occurrences.
Though Dante's Inferno may give the reader something to fear, it also engages the audience with its morbid images. Audiences all throughout history are fascinated with the disgusting. For this reason alone, Dante's work has made its way through the centuries, capturing its audience with grotesque images.
Dante included many different elements in his story: political, mythological, and religious. This provides the reader with endless questions to ponder and ideas to think about. It is doubtful that any generation will get bored with the Inferno.