Back to Show
Monstrum
The Macabre Origins of the Grim Reaper
Season 3
Episode 9
There are fewer images of Death personified than the scythe-wielding skeletal form of the Grim Reaper. But where did it come from? You may have heard that this haunting figure emerged as a result of the Black Plague, but that’s only a fraction of the story. This episode looks at the long history of skeletal Death in religion, literature, art, and pop culture.
Sign up now for inspiring and thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox.
Support Provided By

22:23
Mothman: America's Notorious Winged Monster

9:51
Iceland’s murderous monster feline, the Yule Cat

22:24
Mothman: America's Notorious Winged Monster

9:15
One of the Phillipine’s most dangerous and bizarre aswangs.

6:25
They cause havoc in the lives of all those unfortunate enough to encounter them.

11:00
The cyclops has appeared in stories across the globe for thousands of years.

6:40
You might not think a crying, screaming ghost is a good thing, but you’d be wrong.

8:25
Explore the symbolic interpretations of the windigo.

7:55
Martians! How Aliens Invaded Earth

6:16
Golem: The Mysterious Clay Monster of Jewish Lore

5:34
The legend of La Llorona, the “weeping woman,” has terrified generations.

6:26
How Chimaera Mythology Became Reality