okay, who stereotyped the Grim Reaper, and why is he a robed skeleton with a scythe?

Question

and is this a peersonification of death, or is this what someone saw what death looked like?

Is death=god?
is god=shinigami?
please, before i spark all over the place, i need info on the great GR.

Answer 1

In modern-day European-based folklore, Death is known as the Grim Reaper, depicted as wearing a dark hooded cloak and wielding a scythe.

The garb of Death or the black mourning robe, for which the first references are found in the early fifteenth century, is very close to the robe of the priest or monk who officiated at the death bed. It is interesting to note that the dead body itself was never garbed in black -- the colour of the winding sheet or shroud seems always to have been white.

The scythe is an image that reminds us that Death reaps the souls of sinners like the peasant harvests corn in his field. Each movement of the scythe brings thousands of souls.

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 is 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.

Answer 2

Personification- death as a skeleton, common image, especially during the Dark Ages. I used to remember why, but my books are still packed and I don't ahve time to look it up this morning.

The scythe - agricultural societies, they know just how damaging a scythe could be, and death was considered the"reaper of souls" - what do you reap with? A scythe.

Answer 3

Another source for death being personified is in the book of Revelations...the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Death is riding the fourth horse. There isn't a description of Death, though.

Answer 4

He's basically Saturn, the God of Time, who was often depicted as a skeleton with a scythe - the idea being that Time conquers all.

Answer 5

This may be one we can actually blame on the Jews. (I'm Jewish, so don't think I'm anti-semetic.)

In many of their writings, they talk about the angel of death. I'm pretty sure this is meant to be allegorical, but I can see how the grim reaper evolved from it.

And the Angel of Death went out and attacked the Assyrian camp; One hundred eighty-five thousand.
And when they arose in the morning, they were all dead bodies. (Isaiah 37:36)

Answer 6

i think our friend grim is really into the emo darkness look so he wears a lot of black. the robe can cover his whole body in black all at once. plus it covers his bones which could freak people out. i know that one day everyone is gonna follow in his footsteps and pick up his fashion.

Answer 7

what i would like to know is why he's given a scythe in most depictions. it says he rides with hell and demons and other stuff like pestilence and war behind but it never says hes holding a weapon.

Answer 8

I think it comes from the horseman of the Apocalypse, Death.

Answer 9

I believe "Reaper" is on tonight at 9:00 e.s.t. on the CW.

Answer 10

because a skeleton with a huge scythe is ****** scary I guess