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From: Mark Barton <mbarton@icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp>
Subject: Re: Gender of personified Death
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In article <3pf079$3aq@sun.sirius.com> Jonathan Ryshpan, jon@amito writes:

>Americans represent Death as "the Grim Reaper" an invisible person
>wearing (outlined by) a robe with a hood, and carrying a scythe. 
>Since Death is invisible, it's not clear what the sex is; but I
>always thought it was a he.

The grim reaper figure is said to trace back to the Greek god of time,
Chronos. He (and that was the answer to your question) also carries an
hourglass, which is pretty  obviously the symbol of time, but the scythe
is a bit more subtle. According to Greek legend, Chronos used the scythe
to castrate his father Uranus because he (Chronos) was jealous of
potential siblings. Kinky. However the scythe idea does work very nicely
recycled as a way of harvesting people. (It may have been in the original
legend but if so I missed it.)

Cheers,

Mark B.
