A Western depiction of Death as a skeleton carrying a scythe.

Death as a sentient entity is a concept that has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, death is often given the name the "Grim Reaper" and shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe, and wearing a midnight black gown, robe or cloak with a hood, or sometimes a white burial shroud. Usually when portrayed in the black-hooded gown, his face is not to be seen, but is a mere shadow beneath the hood. Image File history File links Mort. ... Image File history File links Mort. ... A traditional wooden scythe A scythe (IPA: , most likely from Old English siðe, sigði) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing and reaping grass or crops. ... Sentience is the capacity for basic consciousness -- the ability to feel or perceive, not necessarily including the faculty of self-awareness. ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation). ... A traditional wooden scythe A scythe (IPA: , most likely from Old English siðe, sigði) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing and reaping grass or crops. ... A shroud is typically something, usually a cloth, that covers or protects some other object. ...

In some cases, the Grim Reaper is believed to actually cause the victim's death, leading to tales that he can be bribed, tricked, or outwitted in order to retain one's life. Other beliefs hold that the Spectre of Death is only a psychopomp, serving only to sever the last tie from the soul to the body and guide the deceased to the next world and having no control over the fact of their death. This is an article about the mythology of the Psychopomp. ...

Hinduism

In the Hindu scriptures , the lord of death is called Yama, or Yamaraj (literally "the lord of death"). Yamaraj rides a black buffalo and carries a rope lasso to carry the soul back to his abode called "Yamalok". There are many forms of reapers, also some say there is only one whom disguses itself as a small child. It is his agents, the Yamaduts, who carry the souls back to Yamalok. Here, all the accounts of the person's good and bad deeds are stored and maintained by Chitragupta, which allow Yamaraj to decide where the soul has to reside in his next life, following the theory of reincarnation. This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... This article is about the deity Yama in Hinduism. ... For other uses, see Soul (disambiguation). ... In metaphysics and esoteric cosmology, a plane of existence (sometimes called simply a plane, dimension, vibrating plane, or an inner, invisible, spiritual, or supraphysical world) is a theoretical region of space and/or consciousness beyond the known physical universe, or the region containing the universe itself. ... Shree Chitragupta (Sanskrit: चित्रगुप्त, rich in secrets) is a Hindu god assigned with the task of keeping complete records of actions of human beings on the earth, and upon their death, deciding as regards sending them to the heaven or the hell, depending on their actions on the earth. ... This article is about the theological concept. ...

Yama is also mentioned in the Mahabharata as a great philosopher and devotee of Sri Krishna. For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... This article is about the Hindu deity. ...

Interestingly, Yama is also known as Dharmaraj or king of Dharma or justice. One reasoning is that justice is served equally to all – whether they are alive or dead, based on their karma or fate. This is further strengthened by the fact that Yudhishtra, the eldest of the pandavas and considered as the personification of justice, in Mahabharata was born due to Kunti's prayers to Yamaraj. Yama is the Hindu Lord of death whose first recorded appearance is in the Vedas. ... For other uses, see Dharma (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Karma (disambiguation). ... ... The Pandavas were the five sons of the king Pandu. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... In Hinduism, Princess Kunti is the mother of the Pandavas. ...

In Japan

In Kojiki, after giving birth to the fire-god Hinokagutsuchi, the goddess Izanami dies from wounds of its fire and enters the perpetual night realm called Yominokuni that the gods thereto retire. After Izanagi, her husband, failed in the attempt to reclaim her from the land of Yomi (the underworld, to which he travels and discovers his wife as not-so beautiful anymore), in a brief argument with Izanagi, she claimed to take 1000 lives every day signifying her position as the goddess of death. Kojiki or Furukotofumi (古事記), also known in English as the Records of Ancient Matters, is the oldest surviving historical book recounting events of ancient earth in the Japanese language. ... Kagu-tsuchi, also called Hinokagutsuchi or Ho-Masubi or just Kagutsuchi, is the Japanese god of fire. ... In Japanese mythology, Izanami (Katakana: イザナミ; Kanji: 伊弉冉尊 or 伊邪那美命, meaning She who invites) is a goddess of both creation and death, as well as the former wife of the god Izanagi. ... This article is about the location in japanese mythology. ... 天瓊を以て滄海を探るの図. Painting by Eitaku Kobayashi (Meiji period). ... This article is about the location in japanese mythology. ... For other uses, see Underworld (disambiguation). ... 天瓊を以て滄海を探るの図. Painting by Eitaku Kobayashi (Meiji period). ...

Another popular death personification is Enma (Yama), also known as Enma Ou and Enma Daiou (Enma King, Enma Great King – translations of Yama Rājā). He originated as Yama in Hinduism, later became Yanluo in China, and Enma in Japan. He is from Chinese Buddhism, and before that, from India. Enma rules the underworld, which makes him similar to Hades, and he decides whether someone dead goes to heaven or to hell. A common saying parents use in Japan to scold children is that Enma will cut off their tongue in the afterlife if they lie. Tibetan Dharmapala at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois Yama is the name of the Buddhist god and judge of the dead, who presides over the Buddhist Narakas (Pāli: Nirayas), Hells or Purgatories. Although ultimately based on the god Yama of the Hindu Vedas, the Buddhist Yama has developed... For other uses, see Hades (disambiguation). ...

There are also death gods called shinigami, which are closer to the Western tradition of the Grim Reaper. Shinigami (often plural) are common in modern Japanese arts and fiction, and essentially absent from traditional mythology. Shinigami , literally death god) is the Japanese name for personifications of death, in particular the Grim Reaper, which was imported to Japan from Europe during the Meiji period. ...

In Ancient Greek Mythology

The Greek find death to be inevitable, and therefore he is represented as not purely evil. He is often portrayed as a bearded and winged man, but has also been portrayed as a young boy. Death, or Thanatos is the counterpart of life. Death being represented as male, and life as female. He is the twin brother of Hypnos, the god of sleep. He is typically shown with his brother, and is represented as being just as gentle. His job is the escort the deceased to the underworld Hades. He then hands the dead over to Charon, who mans the boat which carries them over the Lethe. The river is the separation of the land of the dead, and the land of the living. It is from Charon that the tradition of putting pennies over the eyes of the dead was born. It was believed that if the ferryman did not receive some sort of payment, the soul would not be delivered to the underworld, and left by the riverside for eternity. Thanatos' sisters, the Keres were the spirits of violent death. They were associated with deaths from battle, disease, accident, and murder. They were portrayed as evil, often feeding on the blood of the body after the soul had been escorted to Hades. They had fangs, talons, and would be dressed in bloody garments. In Greek mythology, Thanatos (in Ancient Greek, θάνατος – Death) was the Daimon personification of Death and Mortality. ... In Greek mythology, Hypnos was the personification of sleep; the Roman equivalent was known as Somnus . ... For other uses, see Hades (disambiguation). ... Charon may refer to: Charon (mythology) - the figure from Greek, and later Christian mythology, who ferried the dead across the river Acheron in the underworld Hades and Hell, respectively. ... In Classical Greek, Lethe (LEE-thee) literally means forgetfulness or concealment. The Greek word for truth is a-lethe-ia, meaning un-forgetfulness or un-concealment. In Greek mythology, Lethe is one of the several rivers of Hades. ... Keres may refer to: Keres (mythology), female death-spirits in Greek mythology Keres people, Pueblo peoples in New Mexico Keresan languages, languages or dialects spoken by Keres peoples Paul Keres - Estonian chess grandmaster Keres (launcher), an Israeli transporter erector launcher for AGM-78 Standard ARM missiles. ...

In Slavic paganism

Old Slavic tribes viewed Death as a woman in white clothes, with a never-fading green sprout in her hand. The touch of the sprout would put a human to an everlasting sleep. This image survived Christianization well into the Middle Ages, only being replaced by the more traditional European image of a walking skeleton as late as in the 15th century. The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

In Lithuanian paganism

Lithuanians named Death Giltinė, deriving from word "gelti" (to sting). Giltinė was viewed as an old ugly woman with long blue nose and deadly poisonous tongue. The legend tells that Giltinė was young, pretty and communicative until she was trapped in a coffin for seven years. The goddess of Death was a sister of the goddess of Life and Destiny, Laima, symbolising the relationship between beginning and end. In Latvian mythology and Lithuanian mythology, Laima (luck; also Laime, Laimas māte) was the personification of fate and of luck, both good and bad. ...

Later, Lithuanians adopted Christian Grim Reaper with a scythe and black robe.

In Abrahamic Mythology

In the Holy Bible, the fourth horseman of Revelation 6 is called Death, and is pictured with Hades following him. The "Angel of the Lord" smites 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp (II Kings xix. 35). When the Angel of Death passes through to smite the Egyptian first-born, God prevents "the destroyer" (shâchath) from entering houses with blood on the lintel and side posts (Ex. xii. 23). The "destroying angel" ("mal'ak ha-mashḥit") rages among the people in Jerusalem (II Sam. xxiv. 16). In I Chronicle xxi. 15 the "angel of the Lord" is seen by King David standing "between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem." The biblical Book of Job (xxxiii. 22) uses the general term "destroyer" ("memitim"), which tradition has identified with "destroying angels" ("mal'ake Khabbalah") and Prov. xvi. 14 uses the term the "angels of death" ("mal'ake ha-mavet"). Azriel is sometimes referred as the angel of death, as well. The Bible (From Greek βιβλια—biblia, meaning books, which in turn is derived from βυβλος—byblos meaning papyrus, from the ancient Phoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus) is the sacred scripture of Christianity. ... Death, as a skeleton which carries a scythe, visiting a dying man. ... This article is about the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... This page is about the Biblical king David. ... For other uses, see Heaven (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... The Book of Job (איוב) is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. ... Articles about Azriel: Azriel was a medieval author on Jewish mysticism Azrael is the angel of death spoken of in the Quran Azriel is also a boys name Azriel is also a hardcore band from Glasgow, Scotland Category: ...

La mort du fossoyeur (Death of the grave-digger) by Carlos Schwabe is a visual compendium of Symbolist motifs.

The portrayal of the scythe originates from a Hellenistic etymological misconception relating the god Cronus with time. Cronus was a harvest deity who is often shown with a sickle, which he also uses to castrate his father Uranus. Etymologists from the Hellenistic period erroneously correlated Cronus with time due to the similarity with the prefix chrono-. From this mistake, Cronus was often depicted as Father Time, carrying a scythe, which is a harvesting tool related to the sickle. The characters of Father Time and the Grim Reaper frequently overlap, leading to the common portrayal of the Grim Reaper brandishing a scythe.^{[citation needed]} As well the conception of the 'harvest' and the reaper reaping the weeds and grain in the field in a parable by Jesus, describing Final Judgement. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Categories: 1877 births | 1927 deaths | German painters | Swiss painters | Artist stubs ... La mort du fossoyeur (The death of the gravedigger) by Carlos Schwabe is a visual compendium of Symbolist motifs. ... Not to be confused with Chronos, the personification of time. ... Sickle Sickle A sickle is a curved, hand-held agricultural tool typically used for harvesting grain crop or cutting grass for hay. ... For other uses, see Uranus (disambiguation). ... Look up chrono- in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the personification of time. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

In Judaism

Form and functions

According to the Midrash, the angel of death was created by God on the first day^[1]. His dwelling is in Heaven, whence he reaches earth in eight flights, whereas pestilence reaches it in one.^[2] He has twelve wings.^[3] "Over all people have I surrendered thee the power," said God to the angel of death, "only not over this one which has received freedom from death through the Law".^[4] It is said of the angel of death that he is full of eyes. In the hour of death he stands at the head of the departing one with a drawn sword, to which clings a drop of gall. As soon as the dying man sees the angel, he is seized with a convulsion and opens his mouth, whereupon the angel throws the drop into it. This drop causes his death; he turns putrid, and his face becomes yellow.^[5] The expression "to taste of death" originated in the idea that death was caused by a drop of gall.^[6] Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text. ... For other uses, see Heaven (disambiguation). ...

The soul escapes through the mouth, or, as is stated in another place, through the throat; therefore the angel of death stands at the head of the patient (Adolf Jellinek, l.c. ii. 94, Midr. Teh. to Ps. xi.). When the soul forsakes the body its voice goes from one end of the world to the other, but is not heard (Gen. R. vi. 7; Ex. R. v. 9; Pirḳe R. El. xxxiv.). The drawn sword of the angel of death, mentioned by the Chronicler (I. Chron. xxi. 15; comp. Job xv. 22; Enoch lxii. 11), indicates that the angel of death was figured as a warrior who kills off the children of men. "Man, on the day of his death, falls down before the angel of death like a beast before the slaughterer" (Grünhut, "Liḳḳuṭim", v. 102a). R. Samuel's father (c. 200) said: "The angel of death said to me, 'Only for the sake of the honor of mankind do I not tear off their necks as is done to slaughtered beasts'" ('Ab. Zarah 20b). In later representations the knife sometimes replaces the sword, and reference is also made to the cord of the angel of death, which indicates death by throttling. Moses says to God: "I fear the cord of the angel of death" (Grünhut, l.c. v. 103a et seq.). Of the four Jewish methods of execution three are named in connection with the angel of death: burning (by pouring hot lead down the victim's throat-- similar to the drop of gall), slaughtering (by beheading), and throttling. The angel of death administers the particular punishment which God has ordained for the commission of sin. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

A peculiar mantle ("idra"-according to Levy, "Neuhebr. Wörterb." i. 32, a sword) belongs to the equipment of the angel of death (Eccl. R. iv. 7). The angel of death takes on the particular form which will best serve his purpose; e.g., he appears to a scholar in the form of a beggar imploring pity (M. Ḳ. 28a). "When pestilence rages in the town, walk not in the middle of the street, because the angel of death [i.e., pestilence] strides there; if peace reigns in the town, walk not on the edges of the road. When pestilence rages in the town, go not alone to the synagogue, because there the angel of death stores his tools. If the dogs howl, the angel of death has entered the city; if they make sport, the prophet Elijah has come" (B. Ḳ. 60b). The "destroyer" ("saṭan ha-mashḥit") in the daily prayer is the angel of death (Ber. 16b). Midr. Ma'ase Torah (compare Jellinek, "B. H." ii. 98) says: "There are six angels of death: Gabriel over kings; Ḳapẓiel over youths; Mashbir over animals; Mashḥit over children; Af and Ḥemah over man and beast." To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require restructuring. ... Ecclesiastes Rabbah or Kohelet Rabbah (קהלת רבה) is an haggadic commentary on Ecclesiastes, included in the collection of the Midrash Rabbot. ... This article is about the archangel Gabriel. ...

Death and Satan

Drawing of Death bringing cholera, in Le Petit Journal

The angel of death, who is identified by some with Satan, immediately after his creation had a dispute with God as to the light of the Messiah (Pesiḳ. R. 161b). When Eve touched the tree of knowledge, she perceived the angel of death, and thought "Now I shall die, and God will create another wife for Adam".^[7] Adam also had a conversation with the angel of death (Böklen, "Die Verwandtschaft der Jüdisch-Christlichen mit der Parsischen Eschatologie," p. 12). The angel of death sits before the face of the dead (Jellinek, l.c. ii. 94). While Abraham was mourning for Sarah the angel appeared to him, which explains why "Abraham stood up from before his dead".^[8] Samael told Sarah that Abraham had sacrificed Isaac in spite of his wailing, and Sarah died of horror and grief.^[9] It was Moses who most often had dealings with the angel. At the rebellion of Korah, Moses saw him (Num. R. v. 7; Bacher, l.c. iii. 333; compare Sanh. 82a). It was the angel of death in the form of pestilence which snatched away 15,000 every year during the wandering in the wilderness (ib. 70). When Moses reached heaven, the angel told him something (Jellinek, l.c. i. 61). Image File history File links Cholera. ... Image File history File links Cholera. ... For scale drawings or plans, see Plans (drawings). ... This article is about the concept of Satan. ... Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , Aramaic/Syriac: , ; Arabic: ‎, ) Literally, Messiah means The Anointed (One), typically someone anointed with holy anointing oil. ...

When the angel of death came to Moses and said, "Give me thy soul," Moses called to him: "Where I sit thou hast no right to stand." And the angel retired ashamed, and reported the occurrence to God. Again, God commanded him to bring the soul of Moses. The angel went, and, not finding him, inquired of the sea, of the mountains, and of the valleys; but they knew nothing of him.^[10] Really, Moses did not die through the angel of death, but through God's kiss ("bi-neshiḳah"); i.e., God drew his soul out of his body (B. B. 17a; compare Abraham in Apocryphal and Rabbinical Literature, and parallel references in Böklen, l.c. p. 11). Legend seizes upon the story of Moses' struggle with the angel of death, and expands it at length (Tan., ed. Stettin, pp. 624 et seq.; Deut. R. ix., xi.; Grünhut, l.c. v. 102b, 169a). As Benaiah bound Ashmedai (Jew. Encyc. ii. 218a), so Moses binds the angel of death that he may bless Israel.^[11] Asmodeus (Asmodeus, Asmodaeus, pronounced Ashmed or Ashmedeus in Hebrew, also Chammadai, Sydonai) is a semi-Biblical demon mostly known thanks to the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit; he is also mentioned in some Talmudic legends and in demonology, as he is a leading figure in the construction efforts of the Temple...

Solomon once noticed that the angel of death was grieved. When questioned as to the cause of his sorrow he answered: "I am requested to take your two beautiful scribes." Solomon at once charged the demons to convey his scribes to Luz, where the angel of death could not enter. When they were near the city, however, they both died. The angel laughed on the next day, whereupon Solomon asked the cause of his mirth. "Because," answered the angel, "thou didst send the youths thither, whence I was ordered to fetch them" (Suk. 53a). In the next world God will let the angel of death fight against Pharaoh, Sisera, and Sennacherib.^[12] This article is about the Biblical character . ... For other uses, see Luz (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Pharaoh (disambiguation). ... Sisera (Egypt. ... Sennacherib during his Babylonian war, relief from his palace in Nineveh Sennacherib (in Akkadian Śïn-ahhe-eriba (The moon god) Śïn has Replaced (Lost) Brothers for Me) was the son of Sargon II, whom he succeeded on the throne of Assyria (705 BC–681 BC). ...

Scholars and the Angel of Death

Talmud teachers of the fourth century associate quite familiarly with him. When he appeared to one on the street, the teacher reproached him with rushing upon him as upon a beast; whereupon the angel called upon him at his house. To another he granted a respite of thirty days, that he might put his knowledge in order before entering the next world. To a third he had no access, because he could not interrupt the study of the Talmud. To a fourth he showed a rod of fire, whereby he is recognized as the angel of death (M. K. 28a). He often entered the house of Bibi and conversed with him (Ḥag. 4b). Often he resorts to strategy in order to interrupt and seize his victim (B. M. 86a; Mak. 10a).

The death of Joshua ben Levi in particular is surrounded with a web of fable. When the time came for him to die and the angel of death appeared to him, he demanded to be shown his place in paradise. When the angel had consented to this, he demanded the angel's knife, that the angel might not frighten him by the way. This request also was granted him, and Joshua sprang with the knife over the wall of paradise; the angel, who is not allowed to enter paradise, caught hold of the end of his garment. Joshua swore that he would not come out, and God declared that he should not leave paradise unless he was absolved from his oath; if not absolved, he was to remain. The angel of death then demanded back his knife, but Joshua refused. At this point a heavenly voice ("bat ḳol") rang out: "Give him back the knife, because the children of men have need of it" (Ket. 77b; Jellinek, l.c. ii. 48-51; Bacher, l.c. i. 192 et seq.).

Rabbinic views

The Rabbis found the angel of death mentioned in Psalms lxxxix. 45 (A. V. 48), where the Targum translates: "There is no man who lives and, seeing the angel of death, can deliver his soul from his hand". Eccl. viii. 4 is thus explained in Midrash Rabbah to the passage: "One may not escape the angel of death, nor say to him, 'Wait until I put my affairs in order,' or 'There is my son, my slave: take him in my stead.'" Where the angel of death appears there is no remedy (Talmud, Ned. 49a; Hul. 7b). If one who has sinned has confessed his fault, the angel of death may not touch him (Midrash Tanhuma, ed. Buber, 139). God protects from the angel of death (Midrash Genesis Rabbah lxviii.). For the town in Italy, see Rabbi, Italy. ... Psalms (Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or praises) is a book of the Hebrew Bible included in the collected works known as the Writings or Ketuvim. ... Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text. ... The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... Midrash Tanhuma (Hebrew: מדרש תנחומא) is the name given to three different collections of Pentateuch haggadot; two are extant, while the third is known only through citations. ... Genesis Rabba (Bereshith Rabba in Hebrew) is a religious text holy to classical Judaism. ...

By acts of benevolence the anger of the angel of death is overcome; when one fails to perform such acts the angel of death will make his appearance (Derek Ereẓ Zuṭa, viii.). The angel of death receives his order from God (Ber. 62b). As soon as he has received permission to destroy, however, he makes no distinction between good and bad (B. Ḳ. 60a). In the city of Luz the angel of death has no power, and when the aged inhabitants are ready to die they go outside the city (Soṭah 46b; compare Sanh. 97a). A legend to the same effect existed in Ireland in the Middle Ages (Jew. Quart. Rev. vi. 336). The Jewish Quarterly Review (JQR) is the oldest English-language journal of Judaic scholarship, established in 1888 by Israel Abrahams and Claude G. Montefiore as an outgrowth of the Wissenschaft des Judentums movement. ...

In Christianity

The medieval painting of Death playing chess from Täby Church in Sweden

Death is, either as a personification or an actual being, referenced occasionally in the New Testament. He is equated with the evil angel Samael. One such image is found in Acts 2:24 – "But God raised Him [Jesus] from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him". Later passages, however, are much more explicit. Romans 5 speaks of Death as having "reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses", and various passages in the Epistles speak of Christ's work on the Cross and His Resurrection as a confrontation with Death. Such verses include Rom. 6:9 and 2 Tim. 1:10. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1920x2560, 2321 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): The Seventh Seal Death (personification) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1920x2560, 2321 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): The Seventh Seal Death (personification) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Täby Municipality is a Municipality in central Sweden where the town of Täby (pop. ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... This article is about the archangel. ... For the literature genre, see Acts of the Apostles (genre). ... The Epistle to the Romans is one of the letters of the New Testament canon of the Christian Bible. ... Michelangelos The Creation of Adam, a fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, shows God creating Adam, with Eve in His arm. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ... The word epistle is from the Greek word epistolos which means a written letter addressed to a recipient or recipients, perhaps part of exchanged correspondence. ... A reliquary in the form of an ornate Christian Cross Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope... The resurrection of Jesus is an event in the New Testament in which God raised him from the dead[1] after his death by crucifixion. ... The Epistle to the Romans is one of the letters of the New Testament canon of the Christian Bible. ... The Second Epistle to Timothy is one of the three Pastoral Epistles, normally attributed to Saint Paul, and is part of the canonical New Testament. ...

Despite Jesus' victory over it, Death is still viewed as enduring in Scripture. 1 Cor. 15:26 asserts, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death", which implies that Death has not been destroyed once and for all. This assertion later proves true in the Book of Revelation. The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ...

The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews declares that Satan "holds the power of Death" (Heb. 2:14). It is written that the Son became human that by his death he might destroy the devil; this is the head of the Beast referred to as, "One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed" (Rev. 13:3). If the head that was fatally wounded but healed refers to Death, this accords with 2 Tim. 1:10, which states that Jesus "has destroyed death", and the implication that death was yet to be destroyed in 1 Cor. 15:26. But it could alternately refer to the Devil separately, who was also said to have been destroyed, and yet has revived. That is, whether Death is the Devil or an agent of Satan is unclear. The Epistle to the Hebrews (abbr. ... This article is about the concept of Satan. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Son of... In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist or anti-Christ means a person, office, or group recognized as fulfilling the Biblical prophecies about one who will oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christs place. ...

The final destruction of Death is referenced by Paul in the fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians; he says that after the general resurrection, the prophecies of Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14 – "He will swallow up death forever", and "Where, O death, is your sting?" (Septuagint), will be fulfilled. According to Paul, the power of Death lies in sin, which is made possible by the Law, but God "gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". That victory over Death is prophetically revealed in the Revelation of John, discussed below. Paul of Tarsus (b. ... Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all variously describe a resurrection of the dead, usually a resurrection of all people to face God on Judgment Day. ... The Septuagint: A column of uncial text from 1 Esdras in the Codex Vaticanus, the basis of Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brentons Greek edition and English translation. ...

In the visions of John, Death is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Rev. 6:8 reads, "I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth". In Rev. 20:13-14, in the vision of Judgment of the dead, it is written, "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death." This describes the destruction of the last enemy. After this, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Rev. 21:4). Saint John on Patmos by Hans Baldung Grien, 1511 Saint John of Patmos, by Jean Fouquet John of Patmos is the name given to the author of the Book of Revelation (or Book of the Apocalypse) in the New Testament. ... For other uses, see Four Horsemen. ...

In Roman Catholicism, the archangel Michael is viewed as the good Angel of Death (as opposed to Samael, the evil Angel of Death), carrying the souls of the deceased to Heaven. There, he balances them in his scales (one of his symbols). He is said to give the dying souls the chance to redeem themselves before passing as well. In Mexico, a popular folk Catholic "cult"^[who?] regards the Angel of Death as a saint, known as Santa Muerte, but this local cultus is not acknowledged by the Church. The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Saint Michael redirects here. ... A Western depiction of Death as a skeleton carrying a scythe. ... This article is about the archangel. ... Cult typically refers to a cohesive social group devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture considers outside the mainstream, with a notably positive or negative popular perception. ... Saints redirects here. ... A life sized figure of Santa Muerte stands outside a fortune tellers storefront in Mexico Citys Chinatown. ...

In Islam

Whilst the preceding Abrahamic religions offered little detail on the passage of souls from one dimension into another, Islam provided detailed information. Previously the lack of scripture tended to categorise Death with the supernatural or evil, a natural consequence of humanity's fear over the unknown. However with the onset of Islam, the concept of death as a celebratory event as opposed to one to be dreaded became manifest. It is the passage of the everlasting soul into a closer dimension to its creator that is seen as a point of joy rather than misery, obvious mortal grief and sadness not withstanding. Indeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad demonstrated that grief was an acceptable form of what makes us human, however prolonged mourning at the expense of the living is inappropriate, especially in the light of the transition from one world to the next. The Quran identifies a number of men as prophets of Islam. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ...

Death is represented by one of Allah's angels in the Quran:

6:93: "If thou couldst see, when the wrong-doers reach the pangs of death and the angels stretch their hands out, saying: Deliver up your souls."

32:11: "Say: The Angel of Death, who hath charge concerning you, will gather you and afterward unto your Lord ye will be returned."

The irony of the Angel of Death refers to his involvement in the creation of life. In these verses the Angel of Death and his assistants are sent to take the soul of those destined to die. Who is the Angel of Death? When God wanted to create Adam, he sent one of the Angels of the Throne to bring some of the earth's clay to fashion Adam from it. When the angel came to earth to take the clay, the earth told him: "I beseech you by the One Who sent you not to take anything from me to make someone who will be punished one day." When the angel returned empty-handed, God asked him why he did not bring back any clay. The angel said: "The earth besought me by Your greatness not to take anything from it." Then God sent another angel, but the same thing happened, and then another, until God decided to send Azra'il, the Angel of Death. The earth spoke to him as it had spoken to the others, but Azra'il said: "Obedience to God is better than obedience to you, even if you beseech me by His greatness." And Azra'il took clay from the earth's east and its west, its north and its south, and brought it back to God. God poured some water of paradise on this clay and it became soft, and from it He created Adam.

He is mistakenly known by the name of "Izrail" (not to be confused with Israel, which is a name in Islam solely for Prophet Ya'qoob/Jacob), since the name Izrael isn't mentioned in the holy Quran nor Hadith, the English form of which is Azra'il. He is charged with the task of separating and returning from the bodies the souls of people who are to be recalled permanently from the physical world back to the primordial spiritual world. This is a process whose aspect varies depending on the nature and past deeds of the individual in question, and it is known that the Angel of death is also accompanied by helpers or associates. This article is about the angel of death. ...

Apart from the characteristics and responsibilities he has in common with other angels in Islam, little else concerning Angel of death can be derived from fundamental Muslim texts. Many references are made in various Muslim legends, however, some of which are included in books authored by Muslim poets and mystics. For instance, the following tale is related in the Naqshbandi order of Sufism on the practicalities of sweeping up human souls from the expanse of the earth: Angels in Islam are light-based creatures, created by Allah to serve and worship him. ...

The Prophet Abraham once asked Azra'il who has two eyes in the front of his head and two eyes in the back: "O Angel of Death! What do you do if one man dies in the east and another in the west, or if a land is stricken by the plague, or if two armies meet in the field?" The angel said: "O Messenger of God! the names of these people are inscribed on the lawh al-mahfuz: It is the 'Preserved Tablet' on which all human destinies are engraved. I gaze at it incessantly. It informs me of the moment when the lifetime of any living being on earth has come to an end, be it one of mankind or one of the beasts. There is also a tree next to me, called the Tree of Life. It is covered with myriads of tiny leaves, smaller than the leaves of the olive-tree and much more numerous. Whenever a person is born on earth, the tree sprouts a new leaf, and on this leaf is written the name of that person. It is by means of this tree that I know who is born and who is to die. When a person is going to die, his leaf begins to wilt and dry, and it falls from the tree onto the tablet. Then this person's name is erased from the Preserved Tablet. This event happens forty days before the actual death of that person. We are informed forty days in advance of his impending death. That person himself may not know it and may continue his life on earth full of hope and plans. However, we here in the heavens know and have that information. That is why God has said: 'Your sustenance has been written in the heavens and decreed for you,' and it includes the life-span. The moment we see in heaven that leaf wilting and dying we mix it into that person's provision, and from the fortieth day before his death he begins to consume his leaf from the Tree of Life without knowing it. Only forty days then remain of his life in this world, and after that there is no provision for him in it. Then I summon the spirits by God's leave, until they are present right before me, and the earth is flattened out and left like a dish before me, from which I partake as I wish, by God's order."

Death in popular fiction

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The character of Death has recurred many times in popular fiction. It has made appearances in many stories, from serious dramatic fiction to comedy, including playing roles in science fiction and fantasy stories. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ...

Films

Death as portrayed in Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal

• In 1957, Swedish director Ingmar Bergman made The Seventh Seal, an influential (and heavily symbolic) movie depicting one of the most famous moments in the fictional portrayal of Death. In the movie, a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) returning from a crusade plays a game of chess with Death, with the knight's life depending upon the outcome of the game. American film critic Roger Ebert remarked that this image "[is] so perfect it has survived countless parodies."^[13] The influence of Bergman's depiction has been wide:
• The final act of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life has Death going into a house to pick up a group of people sitting down to dinner who were killed by the salmon mousse. He then takes them (and their cars) into the afterlife.
• In the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Last Action Hero, Bergman's Death is brought into the real world temporarily, played by Sir Ian McKellen.
• In Peter Jackson's 1996 film The Frighteners, death appears as an invisible Grim Reaper figure wielding a scythe, who murders people. It is later revealed this figure is not the real Death but rather the disguised ghost of an executed serial killer.
• In Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, the Grim Reaper is portrayed as a hilarious, unsportsmanlike, mildly sarcastic guy. He wears a black robe, has white skin, no hair, carries a scythe, and will escort anyone to any desired location (Hell, Heaven, and Earth) if he is beaten at a game. During the newsflashes which appear in the ending credits, it was written that the Grim Reaper won the Indy 500. He was quoted as saying, "I didn't know I could run that fast." He even started his own short-lived rock band.
• In the Adam Sandler movie Click, Sandler portrays Michael Newman that uses a remote to control aspects of his life. Death is represented by Morty (Christopher Walken) who takes Michael's father and afterwards Michael himself as he shows the importance of living life day by day.
• In the Brad Pitt movie Meet Joe Black, Pitt plays the role of Joe Black, the identity and body assumed by death.
• The Hogfather, a two part miniseries based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel of the same name, aired on Sky One in Christmas 2006. In it, Death has to become the Discworld equivalent of Father Christmas in order to save the world (with the help of his granddaughter, Susan).
• Death is also a prominent character in Terry Pratchett film The Colour of Magic.
• In the film The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, a flying, skeletal, screeching Death is constantly chasing Baron Münchhausen in various stages and events throughout the plot, with the intent to take his soul.
• In the B-movie, Six-String Samurai, Death is portrayed at a heavy metal guitar-playing samurai who has ambitions of taking the vacated throne of Lost Vegas for himself. Death's costume resembles the outfit of Guns 'N Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash.
• In the film Dogma, Death is represented by Loki, who quit the job of The Angel Of Death and was banished to Wisconsin until the end of the world.
• In the film Pale Rider, it is implied that Clint Eastwood's character, the Preacher, is Death. A teenage girl prays for help, and shortly after the Preacher arrives on a pale horse and proceeds to wreak death on the antagonists.
• In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Angel of Death appears to the Nazis after they opened the Ark, letting them die gruesome and painful.

Film frame from Det Sjunde Inseglet (The Seventh Seal) This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ...   (IPA: in Swedish; usually IPA: in English) (July 14, 1918 – July 30, 2007) was a Swedish film, stage, and opera director. ... The Seventh Seal (Swedish: Det sjunde inseglet) is an existential 1957 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman about the journey of a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) across a plague-ridden landscape. ...   (IPA: in Swedish; usually IPA: in English) (July 14, 1918 – July 30, 2007) was a Swedish film, stage, and opera director. ... The Seventh Seal (Swedish: Det sjunde inseglet) is an existential 1957 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman about the journey of a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) across a plague-ridden landscape. ...  , (born April 10, 1929) is an Academy-Award nominated Swedish actor, known in particular for his collaboration with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. ... This article is about the Western board game. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Monty Pythons The Meaning of Life is a musical film comedy made in 1983 by the Monty Python comedy team. ... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German IPA: ; born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, Golden Globe-winning actor, businessman and politician currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ... Last Action Hero is a 1993 action comedy directed by John McTiernan. ... Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE (born 25 May 1939) is an English stage and screen actor, the recipient of the Tony Award and two Oscar nominations. ... For the Matt Helm spy novel by Donald Hamilton, see The Frighteners (novel). ... Bill and Teds Bogus Journey is a 1991 American comedy science fiction film, the sequel to Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure. ... A traditional wooden scythe A scythe (IPA: , most likely from Old English siðe, sigði) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing and reaping grass or crops. ... Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American comedian, actor, musician, screenwriter, and film producer. ... Click is an Academy Award-nominated 2006 comedy/drama/science fiction/fantasy film directed by Frank Coraci and written by Steve Koren and Mark OKeefe. ... Christopher Walken (born March 31, 1943) is an Academy Award-winning American film and theatre actor. ... William Bradley Brad Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an Academy award-nominated American actor, film producer, and social activist. ... Meet Joe Black is a 1998 remake of the 1934 film, Death Takes a Holiday, originally having been remade in 1971 under the same name as the original. ... Hogfather is the 20th Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. ... This article is about the novels. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... The Colour of Magic is a comic fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, the first of the Discworld series which was published in 1983. ... The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is a 1988 film directed by Terry Gilliam, starring John Neville (as the Baron), Sarah Polley, Eric Idle, Jonathan Pryce, Oliver Reed, Uma Thurman, and Robin Williams. ... Portrait of young Baron Münchhausen Karl Friedrich Hieronymus, Freiherr von Münchhausen (11 May 1720 – 22 February 1797) was a German baron who in his youth was sent to serve as page to Anthony Ulrich II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and later joined the Russian military. ... Six-String Samurai is a 1998 post-apocalyptic action/comedy film directed by Lance Mungia. ... Dogma is a 1999 comedy film, written and directed by Kevin Smith, who stars in the film along with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, Jason Mewes, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo, and Alanis Morissette. ... Pale Rider is a 1985 Western film, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. ...

Literature

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In Book V of Paradise Lost by John Milton, Death, along with Sin, holds the keys to the locked Gates of Hell. After God and His angels defeat Lucifer (now Satan) and banish him and his followers to Hell, God commands Sin and Death to never unlock the gates. Satan, upon hearing that God has created a new world and new beings, Adam and Eve, sets out to cause their downfall. Arriving at the Gates of Hell, Satan converses with Sin and Death and learns of Death's creation. Sin is the daughter of Satan and became pregnant with Satan's child. The birth was extremely painful for Sin; so painful that she cried out "Death!" as the unnamed entity was born. The caves of Hell echoed back "Death" and her son became known as Death. Death then raped his mother who subsequently gave birth to monstrous dogs who bite and gnaw at her and travel to and fro her womb at will causing her immense pain. According to Sin, Death despises everything living and has the power to destroy anything except God. Sin warns that Death can destroy Satan and that the only reason she is spared (yet tortured) is that Death cannot exist without Sin. Satan nevertheless demands that the gates be opened. Death, unafraid of Satan, calls him a "false fugitive,"^[14] commands him to retreat, and warns, "with one stroke of this Dart, strange horrors seize thee and pangs unfelt before."^[15] By promising Sin and Death a world where they, "shall dwell at ease,"^[16] Satan persuades Sin and Death to open the gates to allow him passage through Chaos to Earth. When word reaches Sin and Death that Satan succeeds, they begin to construct a road connecting Hell to Earth. Satan, on his return from Earth, notes of the road being built and instructs Sin and Death to be his ambassadors on Earth. For other uses, see Paradise Lost (disambiguation). ... For other persons named John Milton, see John Milton (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Sin (disambiguation). ... The Gates of Hell, Musée Rodin. ... This article is about the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... This article is about the star or fallen angel. ... This article is about the concept of Satan. ... This article is about the theological or philosophical afterlife. ... Michelangelos Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel. ...

Death is described as a, "shape had none distinguishable in member, joint, or limb, or substance...Black it stood as Night..and shook a dreadful Dart; what seemed his head the likeness of a Kingly Crown had on."^[17]

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his grave in Dickens' A Christmas Carol

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is presented as a spectre not unlike the Grim Reaper, warning Ebenezer Scrooge of his impending death. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in 1982 animated version of A Christmas Carol. ... Ebenezer Scrooge encounters Ignorance and Want in Dickenss novel, A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. ... Dickens redirects here. ... For other uses, see A Christmas Carol (disambiguation). ... The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in 1982 animated version of A Christmas Carol. ... Dickens redirects here. ... For other uses, see A Christmas Carol (disambiguation). ... Spectre, taken from the Battle for Wesnoth computer game. ... Ebenezer Scrooge encounters Ignorance and Want in Dickenss novel, A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. ...

Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series of fantasy novels features a modernized Grim Reaper, who is the central character of On a Pale Horse, the first book in the series. In this personification, Death is an office held by a mortal. The mortal holding the office of Death is protected from aging, fire, disease and other dangers by the cloak he wears. When not wearing the cloak, the office holder is subject to any and all dangers and consequences just as any other mortal. The person holds the office of Death until they themselves die, usually because they become careless over time, and are themselves killed by someone they have come to collect. This person then takes over the office, and the cycle begins anew. Part way through the book, the character receives a scythe, which is revealed to be another part of his "uniform". Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford, England) is an American writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. ... Incarnations of Immortality is the name of a seven-book fantasy series by Piers Anthony. ...

Death is the most prominent of the anthropomorphic personifications who figure as characters in Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels. He appears in all but one of the books in the series (see Death (Discworld)). Although to begin with, he was a vaguely malevolent figure (when Rincewind managed to avoid being taken, he gave a man a heart attack and killed a small fly, one of his 'stand-ins') he developed into a being that takes not malice but interest in his job, and indeed believes that he must care for humanity ("What can the harvest hope for, if not the care of the Reaper Man?" —Death, Reaper Man). Notable features include the catch phrase "There is no justice, just me," and the emphasis put on his voice, being like "tombstones rolling" (exaggerated by his text being in all capitals). What makes the inclusion of Death so unique is that he is seen to be likable, if not only very droll. Terry Pratchett also plays on common concepts such as the legendary "game of chess," making them into comic features and providing an interesting take on the subject. This version of Death is also shown in the book Good Omens, where he is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. An anthropomorphic personification is a natural process endowed with human form and personality. ... Terence David John Pratchett, OBE (born 28 April 1948) is a British fantasy and science fiction author, best known for his Discworld series. ... This article is about the novels. ... Death is a fictional character in Terry Pratchetts Discworld series. ... Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (1990) is a fantasy novel written in collaboration between Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. ... For other uses, see Four Horsemen. ...

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, there is a children's story about three artifacts created by Death himself to give to three wizard brothers who quite cleverly avoided him by conjuring a bridge across a river he was sure they would die in. The gifts were a ploy to deceive the brothers, in an attempt to kill them as surely as if they had died in the river. The oldest brother asked for a wand that will win any duel for its owner. He received it, only to be killed in his sleep by someone else who wanted it. The second brother was given a stone with the power to recall the dead. He recalled his dead fiancée, who was unhappy because she did not belong in the mortal realm. He eventually killed himself to truly join her. The youngest did not trust Death and asked for a way to avoid Death for as long as he wanted. Death was extremely irritated that he had been cheated out of the same victim twice, but still handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility, which the youngest brother eventually gave to his son. Death then instantly claimed him, and the youngest brother greeted him as one would an old friend, dying quite willingly. HP7 redirects here. ... The Sign of the Deathly Hallows represents all three objects symbolically: the Wand, the Stone, and the Cloak. ... The Sign of the Deathly Hallows represents all three objects symbolically: the Wand, the Stone, and the Cloak. ... The Sign of the Deathly Hallows represents all three objects symbolically: the Wand, the Stone, and the Cloak. ...

In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, Death himself narrates the story of Liesel, a girl living in Nazi Germany, and how she has avoided him, while others around her have not been so lucky. The Book Thief is a 2005 best-selling teen novel by Markus Zusak, and a finalist for the 2007 Michael L. Printz Award. ...

In Ryan Sherwood's (Hold the Light) three versions of Death exist as the "gift" of claiming souls is passed from one to the other. An unbalanced Revolutionary War soldier, Mural, uses his "gift" to dispatch those he sees as evil, but unburdens himself of his death-duties by passing the "gift" to Randy. Randy begins to unravel and loses the gift to George Gabney, an everyman character who struggles with the burden while trying to stay off of the radar of Mural, who wants his "gift" back.

Comics

Death as a teenage goth girl in The Sandman comics

• An atypical personification of Death appears in The Sandman, a series of comic books written by Neil Gaiman, in which Death, one of the Endless, is depicted as a woman. The image and attire of The Endless change to match with the human styles of their current periods, and as such she appears in current era in the guise of a Goth girl. Throughout the different periods she is always shown wearing an Ankh around her neck, symbolizing the idea that life and death are two sides of the same reality. This is further emphasized by the fact that this version is present in the first moment of a human's life, as well as its last. Gaiman's Death is cheerful and supportive, perhaps not only as a way of playing with audience expectations, but also to demystify death itself, which is seen as a moment of passage rather than a real ending. This Death takes a 24 hour day each century to walk amongst the living and likewise die just like the living. She takes no joy nor hatred in her job, but merely does because she must. She will live the longest of the Endless: "When the first living thing existed, I was there, waiting. When the last living thing dies, my job is finished. I'll put the chairs on tables, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave."

• Brazilian cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa also created a personification of death for his stories starring the ghost Bug-a-Booo, Lady McDeath (original: Dona Morte)^[18] She is a more comedic version of the Grim Reaper, often having trouble bringing people to the afterlife. Mauricio even acknowledged he avoids turning McDeath an assassin, aggressive character.^[19]

• Nedor Comics had a superhero during the 1940s called The Grim Reaper.

• Marvel Comics also has a human supervillain called The Grim Reaper, and also uses Death as a cosmic being who embodies all things that have died.

• The title character in the webcomic Jack is the personification of wrath whose punishment is to be the Grim Reaper. In Jack, nearly all the characters are anthropomorphic animals. Jack himself is a wizened green rabbit in a brown cloak.

• In Irregular Webcomic!, there is a different Death for every way of dying. They all work for the Head Death. The Deaths seen most often are Insanely Overpowered Fireballs, Choking on a Giant Frog, Inhaling Hatmaking Chemicals, and Wrestled to Death by Steve, who was ironically wrestled to death by Steve (The character Steve being a parody of Steve Irwin). Once, the Head Death fired Insanely Overpowered Fireballs, who humourously took up a job at the Nigerian Finance Ministry.

• The character of Death has been used frequently in Gary Larson's The Far Side comic strip. Death is seen doing a comedy routine, in a theater with his girlfriend Judy, and "as a child" (where he is putting mini gravestones into a sandbox).

• Death appears as "the server" in the webcomic Dr. McNinja^[20]. He appears in different outfits suiting the cause of one's death. His Purgatory is a restaurant in which you eat venial sins to cleanse them from your soul.

• In the Preacher comic series, a character called Saint of Killers is actually the Angel of Death. He becomes the Angel of Death after taking up a deal with the previous Angel of Death to resolve unfinished business when the Saint of Killers died.

Image File history File links death from fan site This image is a book cover. ... Image File history File links death from fan site This image is a book cover. ... Death is a fictional character from the DC comic book series, The Sandman (1988 - 1996). ... This article is about the subculture. ... The Sandman was a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics for 75 issues from 1988 until 1996. ... Spoiler warning: Death as illustrated by Chris Bachalo. ... The Sandman was a comic book series written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics for 75 issues from 1988 until 1996. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Neil Richard Gaiman (IPA: ) (born November 10, 1960[2]) is an English author of science fiction and fantasy short stories and novels, graphic novels, comics, and films. ... The Endless are a group of beings who embody various aspects of the universe in the DC comic book series The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman. ... This article is about the subculture. ... For other uses, see Ankh (disambiguation). ... Mauricio de Sousa (born October 27, 1935) is a Brazilian cartoonist who has created over 200 characters for his popular series of childrens comic books. ... Nedor Comics was the comic line of publisher Ned Pines, who also published pulp magazines under a variety of company names (Standard or Better or Thrilling), which are also used for the comics. ... For other uses, see Superhero (disambiguation). ... The Grim Reaper is a fictional character and a superhero who originally appeared in Wonder Comics #1, published by Better Publications in May, 1944 (Grand Comics Database). ... This article is about the comic book company. ... Grim Reaper is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. ... This article is about the personification of death in the Marvel Universe. ... Jack is a furry webcomic by David Hopkins, began in March of 2001. ... For other uses, see Cardinal sin (disambiguation) and Seven deadly sins (disambiguation). ... Irregular Webcomic! is a webcomic created by David Morgan-Mar, an Australian physicist. ... For the rugby league footballer of the same name, see Steve Irwin (rugby league). ... Gary Larson (b. ... This article is about the comic strip. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Television

Simon Templeman as the Angel of Death on the TV series Charmed.

• In the Showtime television series, Dead Like Me, Death is depicted as an orange horned frog seen in almost every episode.
• In Xena: Warrior Princess, Celesta is portrayed as the Goddess of Death. She makes two appearances in the series run. Celesta visits the dead and takes them to the underworld. When she is chained, her candle burns and death will be no more.
• In the anime and original manga series