Physical aspects of old age in ancient Egypt
Primary evidence
- The primary sources are human remains, both skeletal and (in the case of
wealthier Egyptians) mummified bodies
- Note the problems in estimating age of ancient bodies
- Examples of life-expectancy from skeletal remains (example cemeteries: Naga
ed-Deir, Tell el-Daba, Saqqara)
Secondary evidence
- Written sources rarely document age, and still more rarely record physical
decline in the old age of an individual.
- Possible sources here include legal documents (Lahun 'will' in the first
person referring to the person as 'aged')
- For life-expectancy, note too the mummy-labels
of the Hellenistic and Roman Periods in Egypt, sometimes giving age at death.
This depends on knowing when a person was born (see social/cultural aspects).
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