what does the grim reaper hold

The Grim Reaper is traditionally depicted as holding a scythe. The scythe is a sharp, curved blade used for mowing or reaping, and while farmers use it to cut plants, the Grim Reaper uses it as a symbolic representation of harvesting souls. The concept of the Grim Reaper, with its characteristic scythe, seems to have appeared in Europe during the 14th century, a time when Europe was dealing with the Black Death, one of the worlds worst pandemics. The scythe is a fitting image taken from agricultural practices of the time, as harvesters used scythes to reap or harvest crops that were ready to be plucked from the earth, symbolizing the harvesting of souls by Death. This imagery became prominent during the time of the bubonic plague, as people dropping like flies gave way to the image of a grim reaper cutting them down, thus associating the scythe with the harvester of souls.