The Macabre Origins of the Grim Reaper (feat. @Caitlin Doughty – Ask A Mortician!) | Monstrum

Thanks to Ancestry for supporting PBS. Check out your family’s history at Don’t miss future episodes of Monstrum, subscribe! 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. Featuring @Caitlin Doughty – Ask A Mortician, this episode looks at the long history of skeletal Death in religion, literature, art, and pop culture. From violent reaper to dark lover and virtually everything in between, there’s a lot more to Death than, well, Death. #grimreaper #mythology #MonstrumPBS Written and Hosted by: Dr. Emily Zarka Director: David Schulte Executive Producer: Amanda Fox Producer: Stephanie Noone Illustrator: Samuel Allen Editor: Ray Lux Produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.