this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
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History Memes

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Scythe? To hell with that! Ol' Grim is a PROFESSIONAL (media.piefed.social)
submitted 4 weeks ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historymemes@piefed.social
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[–] waigl@lemmy.world 29 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

The scythe became part of the picture during the time of the black plague. It was supposed to show that death is no longer content taking just a few lives here and there, but huge swathes everywhere.

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 9 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

That makes a lot more sense to me than it being used as a precise murder weapon. I always wondered.

[–] guy@piefed.social 6 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

No it's to sever the soul from the glands. Can't do that with a crossbow can you?

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 5 points 4 weeks ago

Wilhelm Tell might

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 5 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I was wondering if the change was to vilify peasants after some revolts.

[–] waigl@lemmy.world 4 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

No, but did you know that "villain" used to be basically just another word for peasant?

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yup. Etymology rocks!