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Dean Anderson · 10-10-2003, 01:48 AM

The 'Grim Reaper' figure has long been a part of Christian mythology.

Everything from mediaeval woodcuts to popular culture has the figure.

Where does Christianity get this character from?

I can't find any biblical references - the only references to death personified I can find are in Rev 6.

Revelation describes Death as a horseman riding forth only at a specified time, so where does the image of the cloaked skeleton with a scythe who collects the souls of all the dying come from?

keyser_soze · 10-10-2003, 06:02 AM

Not sure, but I imagine a peasantry creating a mythical figure that "harvests" souls would be almost unavoidable. Early ages of man had a pretty big problem with creating mythical figures willy-nilly to explain this and that. Everything from the tooth fairy to gods....

Rhaedas · 10-10-2003, 06:54 AM

Maybe this?

http://death.monstrous.com/representations_of_death.htm

Quote:

In Greek mythology, Chronos (Cronus) was the king of titans and the father of Zeus. He was also a harvest god called Father Time and carried a sickle which is a tool used in harvesting grain. The Grim Reaper carrying a scythe are directly derived from Cronus. The myth of Chronos eating his children was used in a poetic sense for time devouring all things, as in the old saying "nothing lasts forever."
The three Greek words that were either related originally or related through confusion later were: Chronus (meaning "time"), Cronus (the god of harvest before the Greek gods took over), and corone (meaning "crow"). Little wonder then that we often see a crow accompanying the Grim Reaper."

Some confirmation of the Greek/Chronos connection here as well:

http://www.algocentral.com/pandora/thereaper.html

Sandslice · 10-10-2003, 07:01 AM

I've seen a few theories on this:

1) It was derived from the Greek god Kronus/Chronos/Cronus;
2) It was Samana, a Celtic god of death, who was worshipped on Samhain;
3) It was the arch-angel Uriel.

I'm not sure which actually inspired the art, though.

rfwu · 10-15-2003, 07:22 PM

Frankly, I prefer the Valkeries. At least they're beautiful and they also make death desirable. Much more cheerful.

SiliconWolf · 10-15-2003, 08:37 PM

I thought the Grim Reaper had a connection to the Ferryman who brought the damned across the river Styx into Hades. Might he have been combined with one of the Four Horseman?

Maybe I'm imagining that because that's how the Ferryman was depicted in Ultima 7. There was also a ferryman in the book Sword of Shannara who was presented similarly: black robes with no scythe I think; it's been a while since I read it.

I just checked Dante's Inferno and Charon the ferryman was depicted as a gray-haired old man who hit people with an oar to get them moving, so Dante is probably not the source.

SiliconWolf · 10-15-2003, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sandslice
2) It was Samana, a Celtic god of death, who was worshipped on Samhain;

According to this: The myth of Samhain , there is very little evidence that the Celts worshipped such a being. However, the page also mentions or cites sources mentioning Samana as the "Aryan God of Death" and "the dark Aryan god who was known as the Grim Reaper". So maybe you're on to something.

10-10-2003, 01:48 AM	#1
Dean Anderson Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 6,947	Whence the Grim Reaper? The 'Grim Reaper' figure has long been a part of Christian mythology. Everything from mediaeval woodcuts to popular culture has the figure. Where does Christianity get this character from? I can't find any biblical references - the only references to death personified I can find are in Rev 6. Revelation describes Death as a horseman riding forth only at a specified time, so where does the image of the cloaked skeleton with a scythe who collects the souls of all the dying come from?

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10-10-2003, 06:02 AM	#2
keyser_soze Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: god's judge (pariah) Posts: 1,281	Not sure, but I imagine a peasantry creating a mythical figure that "harvests" souls would be almost unavoidable. Early ages of man had a pretty big problem with creating mythical figures willy-nilly to explain this and that. Everything from the tooth fairy to gods....

10-10-2003, 07:01 AM	#4
Sandslice Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 80	I've seen a few theories on this: 1) It was derived from the Greek god Kronus/Chronos/Cronus; 2) It was Samana, a Celtic god of death, who was worshipped on Samhain; 3) It was the arch-angel Uriel. I'm not sure which actually inspired the art, though.

10-15-2003, 07:22 PM	#5
rfwu Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,336	Frankly, I prefer the Valkeries. At least they're beautiful and they also make death desirable. Much more cheerful.

10-15-2003, 08:37 PM	#6
SiliconWolf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: A soulless suburb of Chicago Posts: 1,000	I thought the Grim Reaper had a connection to the Ferryman who brought the damned across the river Styx into Hades. Might he have been combined with one of the Four Horseman? Maybe I'm imagining that because that's how the Ferryman was depicted in Ultima 7. There was also a ferryman in the book Sword of Shannara who was presented similarly: black robes with no scythe I think; it's been a while since I read it. I just checked Dante's Inferno and Charon the ferryman was depicted as a gray-haired old man who hit people with an oar to get them moving, so Dante is probably not the source.

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