The Grim Reaper Fact Or Fiction?

Wasn't the whole grim reaper thing because of the black death? And those hooded figures people saw with scythes before the illness struck? I know that death became a major figure in art around that time due to 1/3 of people in Europe dying.

I have heard of the angel of death, though--so maybe there's some connection with that. The angel of death preceded the grim reaper, I believe. But then the Japanese have had their myths about shinigami--which are basically the same thing. So, your guess is as good as mine.

originally posted by: rukia
Wasn't the whole grim reaper thing because of the black death? And those hooded figures people saw with scythes before the illness struck? I know that death became a major figure in art around that time due to 1/3 of people in Europe dying.

I have heard of the angel of death, though--so maybe there's some connection with that. The angel of death preceded the grim reaper, I believe. But then the Japanese have had their myths about shinigami--which are basically the same thing. So, your guess is as good as mine.

The idea of Angels of Death predate ancient Sumeria. So yeah, they are very old. But i don't know about the Grim Reaper, but i have to agree that the Grim Reaper we know today came in with the Black death.