

However, it remains a common trope by which we are entertained, or that people can use to express some part of their personality.Īt the end of the day, the Grim Reaper has truly grisly roots in the Black Death of the 14th century, but death has always been a subject of fascination and fear for people. Today, the image of the Grim Reaper doesn’t instill the same level of fear in most people, as it has become ingrained in the cultural collective. It comes as no surprise that the image of the Grim Reaper – a physical representation of Death – would eventually be tangled up with religious organizations. Organized religion thrived for centuries on the fears of people, reporting demons and witches and exorcisms and many other dark, occult topics. The Grim Reaper even appears in religious texts from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, lending credibility to the image, or at least strengthening its popularity. In the same way that primitive people created stories that personified the moon, thunderstorms, meteor showers, eclipses and every other natural phenomenon, more advanced cultures still maintain certain traditions that shield them from the fear of death. When Death is in the shape of a man, it humanizes one of the most abstract concepts for humanity. When people fail to understand something, or are afraid of it, they tend to create more manageable and tangible explanations. While some people believe that the era of silly superstition and magic is over, there are plenty of people who hang on to old traditions and beliefs. There are countless references to the Grim Reaper in music and movies, as well as satirical or creative takes on this figure in movies like Scream, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey and Hellboy II: The Golden Army, among many others. In total, the Grim Reaper is a terror-inducing image that has become extremely recognizable in modern pop culture. Similarly, when Death walks among the living – as in the Black Death – he similarly cuts down human life as easily as wheat. A scythe is actually an agricultural tool that is used to reap grain by cutting down large swaths with a single sweep of the blade.

That blade – the scythe – is perhaps the most iconic aspect of the image. The skeletal hands and face, as well as the glowing red eyes, suggest that this monster has not only been to the fiery depths of Hell, but has come back to take others with him.Īt times, he is also shown holding an hourglass, waiting for the grains of sand to run out on a person’s life before he brings down his blade to snuff out their life. The black cloak, for instance, allows Death to hide in the shadows, menacing people beyond their sight. The blade is over a foot long and the whole thing constructs to stand just over three feet tall. With our Grim Reaper Scythe, you can finish your Death costume or even give a spooky twist to several other costume ideas. Each part of this iconic outfit means something, and has become symbolic for various things over the years. But even more recognizable is the Grim Reaper's tool of the trade. That name may send a shiver down your spine, but what does it really mean? What is the significance of the Grim Reaper, and where did it come from?Īlthough the image has changed slightly over the centuries, the Grim Reaper is almost always shown in a large black cloak, a skeletal face and hands, glowing eyes, and a scythe – the long stick with a curved blade on the top. Pinch yourself to wake up, if you can, because that ominous figure in the distance sounds a lot like the Grim Reaper. a scythe? At that point, if you haven’t already turned and run away screaming, it might be too late. Imagine walking down a dark country road as the fog rolls in, and just out of sight is a shadowy, cloaked figure who appears to be holding something… a walking stick, perhaps, or maybe…. Although the image has changed slightly over the centuries, the Grim Reaper is almost always shown in a large black cloak, a skeletal face and hands, glowing eyes, and a scythe – the long stick with a curved blade on the top. All Rights Reserved.The Grim Reaper is the personification of Death itself, and the history of this imagery dates back centuries. Page Views 2,065,140 views Language switchįollow SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. May your adventure today be fortunate.įollow SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. I will write it down with gratitude for this world. This is a memory of the world of FINAL FANTASY 14. I’m usually somewhere in the lavender bed. (Sometimes my sister Noriko comes to record.) I’m a Machinist, sometimes a Scholar, and my main job is a Warrior. We are keeping a daily record of our journey in search of the wonderful treasures. This is a record of the Norirow Note and Namingway treasure hunting adventures.
