The Grim Reaper

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EphelDuath

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Where did the image of the Grim Reaper (as a robed skeleton with a scythe that plays chess) come from? I’m inclined to think it’s some sort of medieval invention that’s synthesized with the Greek mythological figure Charon.
 
Hiyas:)

I dono but i think his chess board is in the existing health care bill:D
 
It’s the ferryman who takes one across the River Styx. He comes to collect your soul and then takes you across the river, if, and only if you have a coin on your person to pay him. No cash, no ride and your soul never finds rest and has to wonder the earth.
 
Lutheranteach said:
It’s the ferryman who takes one across the River Styx. He comes to collect your soul and then takes you across the river, if, and only if you have a coin on your person to pay him. No cash, no ride and your soul never finds rest and has to wonder the earth.
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That would be Charon from Greek mythology. The “legend” of the Grim Reaper is that when you die and are judged for hell, you can “bribe” the Grim Reaper to let you live longer by defeating him at a game of chess. I’m curious where the latter part came from.
 
The playing chess part, if I remember correctly, comes from a novel wherein the protagonist played a game of chess with death personified.
 
What I thought that was really weird was when I went to Rome, in the church of “St. Peter in Chains”, there was a gigantic picture of the grim reaper. I found it odd, but just figured it meant death for this great Saint. Now if only I can learn to put my pictures of it on here…I am so illiterate…😃
 
EphelDuath said:
That would be Charon from Greek mythology. The “legend” of the Grim Reaper is that when you die and are judged for hell, you can “bribe” the Grim Reaper to let you live longer by defeating him at a game of chess. I’m curious where the latter part came from.
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The game of chess did not exist during classical pagan Greek times.
 
EphelDuath said:
That would be Charon from Greek mythology. The “legend” of the Grim Reaper is that when you die and are judged for hell, you can “bribe” the Grim Reaper to let you live longer by defeating him at a game of chess. I’m curious where the latter part came from.
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Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey? 😛
 
EphelDuath said:
Where did the image of the Grim Reaper (as a robed skeleton with a scythe that plays chess) come from? I’m inclined to think it’s some sort of medieval invention that’s synthesized with the Greek mythological figure Charon.
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my tatooin. i have a grim reaper on my left arm and a mirrored image on my right. he did a really good job. dark military humor you know…😉
 
Lutheranteach said:
It’s the ferryman who takes one across the River Styx. He comes to collect your soul and then takes you across the river, if, and only if you have a coin on your person to pay him. No cash, no ride and your soul never finds rest and has to wonder the earth.
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But does a ferryman a farmer make?
🤷
 
CatholicsCame1s said:
What I thought that was really weird was when I went to Rome, in the church of “St. Peter in Chains”, there was a gigantic picture of the grim reaper. I found it odd, but just figured it meant death for this great Saint. Now if only I can learn to put my pictures of it on here…I am so illiterate…😃
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Yes, that is the very cool and creepy looking tomb of Cinthio Cardinal Aldobrandino.

Also: Do not miss the tomb of Mariano Petro Vecchiarelli.

tee
who was unimpressed by The Moses, but there was scaffolding all over it when he was there
 
NoWings said:
No actually. I believe it was Battleship, Clue, Electronic Table Football, and Twister.

😛
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ANd, they melvined him…😛

On the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, they used another game to make the Reaper their slave :eek:
 
this is also the image for the death card in many, not all, tarot card decks. there is a greek myth of a character who ends life by literally cutting it off, with a scythe, but don’t know if that is the same character as charon the ferryman.
 
Everyone wants to always say it was the Greeks. The Grim Reaper came from the Norse Odin Grim was even one of his names and he was a Death God even kill you dead.

The chess I believe came from the Norse Game of Tafl which is sorta like chess but the pieces all move like rooks.
 
cyberwolf001 said:
Everyone wants to always say it was the Greeks. The Grim Reaper came from the Norse Odin Grim was even one of his names and he was a Death God even kill you dead.

The chess I believe came from the Norse Game of Tafl which is sorta like chess but the pieces all move like rooks.
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facsinating. are you saying chess originated with the norse? have been trying to find the origens of the game. love it. been playing for 30 years, and still love it.🙂
 
benidict said:
facsinating. are you saying chess originated with the norse? have been trying to find the origens of the game. love it. been playing for 30 years, and still love it.🙂
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Chess comes from the Middle East, if I remember correctly.
 
benidict said:
facsinating. are you saying chess originated with the norse? have been trying to find the origens of the game. love it. been playing for 30 years, and still love it.🙂
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It’s one of the theories. Others say it had an influence on chess, still others that chess influenced it (how when tafl is older I do not know but some folks wanna say the Germanic tribes never had an orignal idea in their combined heads. Like how people say the Catholic Church stole everything today.)
 
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