The Grim Reaper

Discover the bizarre origin of the Grim Reaper - harbinger of death.

It puts a whole new slant on germ warfare

LINK TO ARTICLE

reply to post by suziwong


I'm always suspicious when I read something, and can't find another source of it beyond what's given.
I can find mention of either Odin inspiring the legend, under the guise of Grimnir, or Kronos, the father of the Olympian gods, but only find William Bramley sourced for this legend.

Odin would travel in the accompaniment of his crows, hooded to prevent his recognition by mortals, and he was in part a god of the dead.

Kronos was probably a god of harvest, before the Greeks supplanted him.

Fairly interesting article about the Grim Reaper in comparing the possible origins:www.britishpride.org...

Hi Rune - as set out in the article - in the book "Gods of Eden" by William Bramley

He found documented accounts from various places across Europe - Hungary, Germany that all stated the plague was preceded by the arrival of hooded figures with fearful faces waving hissing scythes over the fields - followed by noxious mists (some gave accounts of lights / crafts in the sky)

I know that there were angels of death prior the the grim reaper - but the actual iconic grim reaper seems to have come from the time of the plague


Some more links

LINK

LINK

LINK

reply to post by suziwong


My point is, that Bramley is the only source for this story, while examples of proto Reapers are found in history.

Thanks for the link - some interesting stuff in there