Supernatural Creatures and Haunted Places: True Spine chilling stories.

Grim Reaper: The hacker of Your Soul

Various cultures have developed figures to depict death for thousands of years. The Grim Reaper—usually a skeletal figure draped in a dark, hooded gown and wielding a scythe to "reap" human souls—is one of the most common and enduring of them. But how did this visual become connected with death, and when did it do so?

During the 14th century, the Grim Reaper is said to have appeared throughout Europe. During this time, Europe was suffering with the Black Death, the world's worst pandemic at the time, which was thought to be the outcome of the plague.

The epidemic is said to have killed around one-third of Europe's population, with some sections of the continent suffering significantly higher losses than others. The first plague outbreak happened between 1347 and 1351, and outbreaks recurred multiple times after that. Death was certainly on the minds of the surviving Europeans, and it is hardly unexpected that they drew up an image to represent it.

But what is the significance of the skeletal figure? What is the significance of the scythe? What is the significance of the robe? Skeletons are symbols of death, depicting the decomposed human body. The gown is said to be reminiscent of the robes worn by religious dignitaries during burial ceremonies at the time. Harvesters used scythes to reap or harvest crops that were ready to be picked from the ground... And, well, that's what happens when humans die: they're removed from this planet.

Death is known as the Grim Reaper in modern European folklore, and is shown wearing a dark hooded cloak and holding a scythe. Death's robe, also known as the black mourning robe, dates back to the early fourteenth century and is remarkably similar to the robe worn by the priest or monk who presided at the deathbed. It's worth noting that the deceased body was never wrapped in a black sheet or shroud; instead, the winding sheet or shroud was always white.

The scythe is a symbol of Death reaping the souls of sinners, much like a peasant harvesting corn in his field. Thousands of souls are transported with each scythe movement.

Chronos, often known as Father Time, was the monarch of the titans and the father of Zeus in Greek mythology. Cronus was a harvest god who wielded a sickle, an instrument used in grain harvesting. Chronus and Cronus are combined to become the Grim Reaper, who wields a scythe. Chronos eating his offspring was a lyrical metaphor for time devouring everything, as in the old adage "nothing lasts forever." Why not make death nice if you're going to give it a human face?

That was the Greeks' approach, and death was given the moniker Thanatos. Thanatos was the deity of sleep's twin brother, Hypnos, and both were depicted as young, pleasant men. Thanatos is depicted with wings and a smouldering flame in some illustrations. His task was to accompany the deceased to Hades, the Greek afterlife. Thanatos would then convey the souls to Charon, the river Styx's ferryman. Death is pleasant and useful in this rendition, rather than ugly and frightening.

Death can also take on a feminine form. The Valkyries were attractive young women who served as Odin's messengers as well as escorts to the souls of soldiers killed in battle in Norse mythology. Valkyries literally means "choosers of the slain." They would ride winged horses into combat and chose courageous warriors to die after assessing the battlefield. The souls would then be sent to Valhalla, Odin's hall. The valiant souls were enlisted to participate in the battle of Ragnarok, a catastrophic clash signifying the end of the world, after they arrived in the afterlife.

Angels, who serve as spiritual intermediaries between God and humans, are evocative of the Valkyries. Angels are said to deliver messages to mortals or to guard them from harm in some myths. They engage with the dead in other stories, torturing people who have sinned. In many religions and cultures, the Angel of Death — a spirit that extracts one's soul from the body at death — arrives. In Judeo-Christian faith, the archangels Michael and Gabriel have operated as angels of death. Azrael is the Islamic Angel of Death, who can take the form of a terrifying spirit with eyes and tongues all over his body. Azrael has a vast ledger in which he records and erases the births and deaths of all the world's souls.

So now you know the Dementors of Harry Potter are embodiments of Death!