At the close of the preceding Canto the time is indicated as being an hour after sunrise. Five hours later would be noon, or the scriptural sixth hour, the hour of the Crucifixion. Dante understands St. Luke to say that Christ died at this hour. Convito , IV 23:⁠—

“Luke says that it was about the sixth hour when he died; that is, the culmination of the day.”

“Luke says that it was about the sixth hour when he died; that is, the culmination of the day.”