Death reaper

In different cultures and religions are variously depicted rulers of Underworld. Basically everywhere in the world, we can find an idea of what should be waiting on us on the other side. But how do we get there?

In Greek mythology, the souls of the deceased passed through the Styx River by ferryman Charon, whom the deceased had to pay. For this reason, money is often given even today to those who should be conveyed to the other side. However, idea of a man or woman in black, sometimes with scythe, that is death, is more widespread.

In medieval times was death usually described with scythe. In Europe was usually death a woman, who was showing herself to one who should early die. As stated by Katarína Nádaská and Ján Michálek she could „change her size, she can get anywhere and usually appeared at night. She stopped carriage or she get on back on someone to get her on place where she needed (...) she acted as aunt or unknown relative, who as a mediator of fate came to grab a man.“ 

In the time of epidemics, there were several deaths according to the people´s behavior, but in general three, who formed a group and tooked everyone, who they met.

The group of three can be also find in Philippine folklore called Kumakatok. Kumakatok are three hooded figures that are omens of death to old and ill ones. They will knock on the doors and person will die in short time. Nothing can repel them from coming to your home.

Igor Janota mentioned one old legend fom Bratislava, which tell us that „one evening in 1674 glimpsed the guards at the Michalská gate two mysterious characters entering the city. They were covered in black (...) both characters dragged scythes on their shoulders. One of the guards heard their talk. One said „Where will we start mowing?“ then the other said „Right from the edge.“ Guard did not heard more. The next day, Bratislavans began to slaughter by the Black Death. Mercilessly. During the plague, 11 000 people died in the city. It is enough to add, that even in 1700, 25 years after the pandemic, only 9 thousand people lived in Bratislava. And after ten years, the plague had reaped again.“

But there were not only one or more deaths, who were walking among the people. In Breton, Northwest France, people  believed in Ankou, who should drive a cart and collet the souls of the sick and dying, once the cart is full, Ankou delivered all collected souls to Anaon, the king of Underworld.

Usual was personification of death connected with some disaster or epidemic. In Europe it was personification of Black Death in the 14th century. In matter of months as much as 60 percent of the population died. People used to say that the death have form of old women called Pesta. If Pesta brings rake some will survive, if broom, all would perish. One boatman did not recognize, that it was Pesta who asked him for take her acroos the river. He let the good deed be the payment for the journey, but Pesta said that she cannot spare his life, but she can make his death easier. When man came back home, he fall asleep and moment later he was gone.

From Irish Mythology we can mentioned Banshee, which is predicting death of a family member. She can apper in variety of forms, mustly ugly, frightful hag, but she can also appear as beautiful woman.

But it is not only in past, or just notes from legends, even now many dying people see „somebody.“

Many times people use to say, that they can see people in black, who came for them. As stated Luc Bürgin on pages pflegeboard.de are such a stories. Bürgin mentioned story of care-giver from Seehausen „I had a night service (...) one resident who was really in great condition told me that evening to dress on her most beautiful sleep dress(...) About half past eleven at night (...) she was found as she is sitting on bed and singing (...) she sad that she is singing with others (...) woman said, that „There are two black men, and they´ll take me tonight with them." At next check woman was no longer alive.“

Another story (mentioned by Bürgin) from nurse from Wadgassen is telling us story when „one patient asked my colleague for body cleansing „You are two here today? Who is that strange man with you? I hate him send him away“ colleague was alone. It was like that for whole day.“ That night man died and the patient in the adjoining room said the guy in the black was no longer there, but he did not know the other man was dying.“

Also Arnošt Vašíček is mentioning stories of people who have seen death in its traditional form and even with scythe in hand. „One 13 years old girl lying in the intensive care unit called doctor and claimed to see a skeleton with a scythe at the head of one patient. She wanted to take her off, but death was only angry hissed and bent over the patient who really died in the next few minutes.“

Can be these stories and ideas real? Is it possible that we only see hallucinations before death? As Vašíček stated, that „understandable would be only those cases of patients whose brains indicate the imminent collapse of the organism,  but the reality is quite different. Nearly 90% of the cases he recorded were completely healthy people.“

Sources of citations:

Katarína Nádaská, Ján Michálek. Čerti, bosorky a iné strašidlá. Slovenské poverové bytosti. Fortuna Libri: Bratislava, 2015

Luc Bürgin. Neplatné fyzikálne zákony. Dialog Liberec, 2013

Igor Janota. Bratislavské rarity. Marenčin PT, s.r.o.: Bratislava, 2006

Arnošt Vašíček. Setkání s tajemnem. Mystery Film, 2010

Source of picture: https://pixabay.com/sk/tunel-priechod-podjazd-svetlo-965720/