AGE, a certain portion or part of duration applied to the existence of particular objects: thus we say, the age of the world, the age of Rome, &c. that is, the time or number of years elapsed since the creation of the world, or the building of Rome. See ASTRONOMY, Of the division of time.
The ancient poets also divided the duration of the world into four ages or periods; the first of which they called the golden age, the second the silver age, the third the brass age, and the fourth the iron age.