Did people in ancient Germania die at the age of 40?
Life expectancy wasn’t so bad. Of course child mortality was high back then, and many people died from accidents, wounds or illnesses while in their 20s, 30s, 40s and so on. But apart from such external risks, you would have had a fair chance to reach 70 or even 80. E.g., King Ermaneric of the Goths was said to be over 100 when he committed suicide (after the Huns had destroyed his kingdom). Since Teutons didn’t count years, there’s a lack of data, and most prominent Teutons died a violent death anyway (usually intentionally, too). But in more civilized neighboring countries, reaching a high age was quite common: Roman senators had to have an age of at least 60 (if I remember correctly); Roman Emperor Augustus was over 75 at the time his troops were defeated by the Teutonic rebellion; and Greek diadoch king Antigonos died valiantly fighting on the battlefield – at the age of 83…
