human
Why is the devil holding a scythe in the painting ‘The Inferno of Hieronymus Bosch’?
assistant
The devil is holding a scythe because he’s the Grim Reaper. The Grim Reaper is a personification of death and is depicted as a skeleton carrying a scythe, a symbol of death. The Grim Reaper is often portrayed as wearing a hooded black robe and carrying a scythe. The Grim Reaper is often associated with the color black and is sometimes depicted as a skeleton riding a skeletal horse.