When it comes to badass weapons, one of our absolute favorite is a scythe. Although not created as a weapon, scythes have become synonymous with darkness and death. Scythes were created as agricultural tools for mowing grass and collecting crops. They date back to approximately 5000 BC and during 16th century Europe, they replaced the sickle as the primary agricultural tool, as they were more ergonomic and efficient. Many often confuse scythes and sickles, however, a scythe has a long ‘S’ curved handle and a sickle has a short handle with a curved blade. After many centuries of use, scythes became obsolete with the development of lawn mowers.
Today, scythes are commonly associated with the Grim Reaper. Scythes are used to reap edible grains, whereas the Grim Reaper reaps souls. The Grim Reaper is the embodiment of death and is frequently depicted as a skeleton with black robes and a scythe in hand. Grim Reapers with scythes have been portrayed frequently in popular culture, such as in “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey,” “Family Guy” and “The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy.”
In honor of the rich history of scythes, take a look at 75 spectacular scythe tattoos from talented tattoo artists around the world. Then let us know your favorite tattoo from this list in the comments section on social media.