[dlgn]

http://www.bbbff.net/

[Life_is_a_party]

Why does everyone associate scythes with evil/death? Maybe they want to be good weapons, you never know!

Scythes are typically known as the weapon of the Grim Reaper himself. It was typically a tool known for harvesting wheat and other crops from fields and is used by Grim as a representation of his "Harvesting" souls.
They fit in the same place as sickles as they can be also used for war and fighting alongside the agricultural use with very few or no changes to the tool, and have been used in wars as such, and are often very sharp and dangerous weapons and tools.
So scythes typically represent death as they have lost they're use in farming and replaced by many types of machines, and while still used today in farming, they are in short supply.
Here's the only relatable pony picture I can find, of or by (I can't remember) Question Pinkamena. Heads up! The link is a cupcakes parody thing, treat it as such: Strong language and violence! Though the art is good and there's some good humor to be found.

Spoiler:

Ironically enough, my favorite song is fan-made: The Gypsy Bard, from Friendship is Witchcraft episode 6.
~dlgn

I love that song, that and Pinkie's Brew.

[kingofturves]

Why does everyone associate scythes with evil/death? Maybe they want to be good weapons, you never know!

Scythes are typically known as the weapon of the Grim Reaper himself. It was typically a tool known for harvesting wheat and other crops from fields and is used by Grim as a representation of his "Harvesting" souls.
They fit in the same place as sickles as they can be also used for war and fighting alongside the agricultural use with very few or no changes to the tool, and have been used in wars as such, and are often very sharp and dangerous weapons and tools.
So scythes typically represent death as they have lost they're use in farming and replaced by many types of machines, and while still used today in farming, they are in short supply.

Well summed up.
Scythes have a strong association with with death.
Most likely dates back to Roman times.

Father time carried around a scythe because he is known as Kronos the ancient Roman god of harvest. A scythe is always known as a tool used in harvesting. It was the tool by which life was cut down at the time of harvest and was crescent-shaped like the moon, symbolic of cyclic rise and fall.

Greek and Roman pantheons have gods relating to harvest time and time in general.
Cronus is most directly connected with scythes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cronus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(mythology)

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

A Riddle in Tolkiens' The Hobbit.
Time is connected with the death of all things.
So I think that later traditions have 'inherited' the symbolism of Cronus' scythe and incorporated it into the personification of time and death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Time
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(personification)

The personification of Death is a bit of an odd one.
Whilst death is the logical and natural part of the cycle of life at the end of it's journey.
It's often seen as a bad thing especially when life is cut short.
Causing death is evil.
We have rules against causing death and punishments for those who cause death, either intentionally (murder) or unintentionally (manslaughter).
In those situations justice rightly calls out for the punishment of those responsible for the crime.
However where death occurs due to no one else's fault, accident, illness, old age, etc.
I guess people still try to make sense of the world and making death a person, helps people cope.
They know who to blame and therefor, Death the person can be seen sometimes as an evil person/thing.


Although Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels gives an interesting spin on the idea of Death personified in a fantasy setting where Death is portrayed in a neutral fashion, a very honest, matter of fact person, who wouldn't lie and is very calm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(Discworld)

Scythes...

As a farming implement.
Popularized as a Weapon in Anime...

You're doing it wrong!
Scythes have been used in times of war. These are known as warscythes and would be a common choice amongst peasantry who had readily access to farming tools, but not any other weapons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_scythe

Scythes that are used in warfare are converted into 'polearm' weapons.
Similar to

bills,

halberds

and polearms.

The warscythe is a poor man's infantry weapon, used to perform the role of dealing with cavalry.
Like spears and pikes.

Why does everyone associate scythes with evil/death? Maybe they want to be good weapons, you never know!

Not really sure how a weapon can be considered 'good', since weapons are used to kill and since killing involves death and death is bad, therefore weapons must be evil. ^_^

In an unmodified state, I think the problem with scythes, is that the joint between the blade and the shaft, would be quite weak and unsuited to attacking anything above grass. The angle is okay for harvesting grass and wheat at ground level. But Wielding the scythe like an axe would be exhausting, lifting it above head height and swinging it down.
But reforging the blade and re-angling, it is a far more effective weapon.
A scythe could be prone to snapping if used forcefully, so improving the joint would help.




Definitely would recommend reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel series, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, definitely reminds me of having a similar vibe where a fantasy world reflects modern society.
Where as in Equestria it's ponies trying to do human things.
In Discworld it's fantasy creatures like dwarves and trolls having to live alongside and with humans in a more cosmopolitan setting.

[dlgn]

Why are we talking about scythes in a My Little Pony thread?

Also, y'all had better watch me or it'll become a FiW thread.

toymaker__s_creation_trapped_inside_a_crystal_ball_by_draikjack-d55xn67.png (330.38 KiB) Viewed 3124 times

"You're a toymaker's creation trapped inside a crystal ball."

~dlgn

[kingofturves]

Color palette changes for youtube, today.

[Life_is_a_party]

"You're a toymaker's creation trapped inside a crystal ball."~dlgn

"But whichever way he tilts it, know that we must be resilient, we won't let them break our spirits as we sing our silly song!"

[kingofturves]

Greetings From New Vegas

[Life_is_a_party]

Greetings From New Vegas

[Ryu Aurora]

235 pages of pony insanity. Well done.

[Life_is_a_party]

235 pages of pony insanity. Well done.

235 pages of pony insanity... so far.