Why is Dante portrayed as 35 years old at the beginning of The Divine Comedy?

In The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri describes himself as being 35 years old at the start of his journey because he has reached "half of our life’s way" (Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita).1

This age is significant because, in the context of the medieval era, 70 was considered the standard lifespan for a human being. By identifying himself as 35, Dante marks the midpoint of his life, symbolizing a moment of personal crisis and the loss of his moral path, which serves as the catalyst for his allegorical journey through the afterlife.21