The scythe became part of the picture during the time of the black plague. It was supposed to show that death is no longer content taking just a few lives here and there, but huge swathes everywhere.
this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2025
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That makes a lot more sense to me than it being used as a precise murder weapon. I always wondered.
No it's to sever the soul from the glands. Can't do that with a crossbow can you?
Wilhelm Tell might
I was wondering if the change was to vilify peasants after some revolts.
No, but did you know that "villain" used to be basically just another word for peasant?
Yup. Etymology rocks!
What was he called then because you can’t be a reaper without a scythe. The Grim Crossbowman?
You can reap without a scythe. Reaping just means collecting or gathering, usually a crop but modern definitions include things other than crops.
But surely not with a crossbow
"Death"
Not the best branding ever
I can’t wait until we get to the place where there’s always an Existential Comic for that
Forget the crossbow? Did I just read darts, so death is going around shouting "bullseye!" with a beer mug in the other hand?!
More like a pre-modern lawn dart
I foolishly neglected the modern variety as well.
Plumbatae were badass. You threw them just like a dart and good legionnaires could hit someone from like 50 meters or more. Diocletian was a big fan of them.
I'm given to understand that the debate is ongoing whether the preferred method was overhand (like a modern hand dart, but adjusting for the arc) or underhand (like a lawn dart)
Very cool weapons!
With the dearth of sources showing us how to use them I'm leaning that they used the most elite technique, the granny toss.
I thought the most elite technique was the "fan of darts" where you spin around flinging darts in all directions. Each dart lands direct center of the forehead, of course.