Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KUAT TV Channel 6 is powered down for tower repairs until 1pm. Visit our Service Outage Monitor for details. | We are updating our website. Some features may be unavailable.

The Macabre Origins of the Grim Reaper

Season 3 Episode 9 | 10m 02s

There are fewer images of Death personified than the scythe-wielding skeletal form of the Grim Reaper. But where did it come from? You may have heard that this haunting figure emerged as a result of the Black Plague, but that’s only a fraction of the story. This episode looks at the long history of skeletal Death in religion, literature, art, and pop culture.

Aired: 06/30/21
Latest Episodes
All
Borley Rectory has been called the most haunted house in England, and for good reason.
The Kelly-Hopkinsville Encounter is one of America’s most famous alleged alien encounters.
In 1803, London’s Hammersmith Ghost sparked terror—and a deadly case of mistaken identity.
In 1973, a strange creature reportedly terrorized the small town of Enfield, Illinois.
Why is the Kitsune Japan's most enduring yokai?
For years, residents of Fouke, Arkansas have sighted a Bigfoot-like creature lurking in the woods.
In Greek mythology, Typhon wasn’t just another beast, he was a creature capable of defeating Zeus.
A haunting Dominican legend comes alive: La Ciguapa.
The Bell Witch may be the most chilling and best-documented hauntings in American history.
The Cold War-era UFO Mystery of The Lubbock Lights remains captivating to this day.
Extras
Ana gives birth to a healthy baby and wants nothing more than a calm, relaxed, restful homecoming.
New York Times reporter Lisa Lerer discusses Idaho's abortion ban and the upcoming ballot measure.
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library celebrates his commitment to conservation
News Wrap: U.S. providing visas to Bolsonaro and family after loss in Brazil's election
Inside Georgia's push to rebuild trust in elections after Trump's false claims
Poll gauges voter enthusiasm for both parties a week before election
Democrats put economy and affordability at center of final campaign push
Projections show no clear winner in Israel's election
School principal documents Indonesia's worst wildfires in a decade
Why Trump's coalition of evangelical voters could be fraying
Monstrum takes a closer look at monsters, myths, and legends.
What do the Sagas of the Icelanders and Game of Thrones have in common?
Did you know there are two different types of chupacabras?
Godzilla is one of the most recognizable monsters in film, and he should be.
How Chimaera Mythology Became Reality
The legend of La Llorona, the “weeping woman,” has terrified generations.
Golem: The Mysterious Clay Monster of Jewish Lore
Martians! How Aliens Invaded Earth
Legend has it this monster could take down ships and create whirlpools.
Explore the symbolic interpretations of the windigo.