Post by Dean Winchester on Apr 14, 2008 21:07:25 GMT -5
Death as a living, sentient entity is a concept that has existed in all known societies since the beginnings of recorded history. The most common representation of death is that of modern European folk-lore: The Grimm Reaper a.k.a. Grimm Spectre of Death. Despite the belief that their is only one Grimm Reaper, their are actually many. Every culture and religion has their own take on the Reaper.
In Breton mythology, the reaper takes on the form of Ankou, who is described as a tall man who wears a wide-brimmed hat and long coat. He is the one who collects the souls of the dead and aids them on their journey to the next world, in his old rickety cart pulled by four black horses. According to some Ankou was the first child of Adam and Eve. Some tales have it that he has two companions, who are skeletons in some versions, following behind his cart and tossing into it souls.
In Hindu mythology, the lord of death is called Yama and is one of the rulers of the eight sides. He rides a black buffalo and carries a rope lasso to carry the soul back to his abode. Here, all the accounts of the person's good and bad deeds are stored which allow him to decide where he has to reside, either in hell or heaven.
In Japanese mythology, death is personified as Enma, also known as Enma Ou and Enma Daiou. 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.
Judaism found the angel of death mentioned in Psalms lxxxix. 45, where the Targum translates: "There is no man who lives and, seeing the angel of death, can deliver his soul from his hand". 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. The angel of death receives his order from God. As soon as he has received permission to destroy, however, he makes no distinction between good and bad.
Islam’s “angel of death” is 'Izrail, the English form of which is Azrael. 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 individuals in question, and some suggest that Azrael is also accompanied by helpers or associates.
Alike in all Reaper lore, they stop time and are the only ones who can take and give life. Of coarse, since they are death in a being form, they have no weaknesses if they are their naturally. They can only be seen if they are coming at you preparing to take your life.
Binding Reapers has been talked about in all the myths in all cultures. Using the Celtic Cross and binding spell used by fallen priests who called upon dark magic, a Reaper can be controlled and allow a person to "cheat death". But it's like "putting a dog collar on a great white". The Reaper doesn't like to be controlled and once they are free of their binds, they automatically take the life of their binder. The only way to break the binding spell is to destroy the black magic alter and the Celtic Cross.
In Breton mythology, the reaper takes on the form of Ankou, who is described as a tall man who wears a wide-brimmed hat and long coat. He is the one who collects the souls of the dead and aids them on their journey to the next world, in his old rickety cart pulled by four black horses. According to some Ankou was the first child of Adam and Eve. Some tales have it that he has two companions, who are skeletons in some versions, following behind his cart and tossing into it souls.
In Hindu mythology, the lord of death is called Yama and is one of the rulers of the eight sides. He rides a black buffalo and carries a rope lasso to carry the soul back to his abode. Here, all the accounts of the person's good and bad deeds are stored which allow him to decide where he has to reside, either in hell or heaven.
In Japanese mythology, death is personified as Enma, also known as Enma Ou and Enma Daiou. 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.
Judaism found the angel of death mentioned in Psalms lxxxix. 45, where the Targum translates: "There is no man who lives and, seeing the angel of death, can deliver his soul from his hand". 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. The angel of death receives his order from God. As soon as he has received permission to destroy, however, he makes no distinction between good and bad.
Islam’s “angel of death” is 'Izrail, the English form of which is Azrael. 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 individuals in question, and some suggest that Azrael is also accompanied by helpers or associates.
Alike in all Reaper lore, they stop time and are the only ones who can take and give life. Of coarse, since they are death in a being form, they have no weaknesses if they are their naturally. They can only be seen if they are coming at you preparing to take your life.
Binding Reapers has been talked about in all the myths in all cultures. Using the Celtic Cross and binding spell used by fallen priests who called upon dark magic, a Reaper can be controlled and allow a person to "cheat death". But it's like "putting a dog collar on a great white". The Reaper doesn't like to be controlled and once they are free of their binds, they automatically take the life of their binder. The only way to break the binding spell is to destroy the black magic alter and the Celtic Cross.