Where did the image of the Grim Reaper as a symbol of death originate?

Question

The Grim Reaper is a well-known symbol of death in our modern culture. What is the story behind that symbol? When and how did he become what he is today?

Answer 1

Most cultures have some form of Anthropomorphic personification of Death, it's possibly the most pervasive aspect of all Human existence.  From what I've seen that particular one dates back to Western Europe of the 12th or 13th century, and was popularized, along with gargoyles and other such church ornamentation, as part of what became known in the Renaissance as Gothic Architecture.  The appearance seems to have corresponded to the introduction of the scythe, until then reaping had been done with sickles and couldn't be done standing.  The larger scythe could be used standing and allowed larger sweeps, making it good for mowing grass, hence the image of the Grim Figure with his scythe, mowing people like grass or, later, crops.

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grim_Reaper

Answer 3

Kronos was given a scythe to deliver justice to Uranus, which he did by dispatching his genitals into the sea which gave birth to Aphrodite.  That is the popular view we have today of a cloaked and hooded figure with a scythe, it was a scary vision promulgated by religion and now it is still with us as entertainment on television.  Viewed differently through eyes of fear to the eyes of popular imagination.  But with us, nevertheless.

Answer 4

celtic samhinan