A scythe is an agricultural implement traditionally used to cut grass, grains, reeds, and sedges. Scythes were used by many ancient cultures and they continue to be utilized in some regions of the world today, sometimes in festivals which commemorate ancient farming techniques, and sometimes as legitimate farming implements. The scythe has largely been replaced by tractors and other mechanized farming devices which can accomplish cutting and harvesting tasks much more quickly and with much less physical labor.
Scythes have a long handle known as a snaith which may be curved or bent, depending on the region where the tool was made, with two handles which project outward from the snaith to provide grips to the user. A curved and extremely sharp blade is attached to the snaith. The act of using a scythe, known as mowing or scything, requires the mower to swing the blade back and forth. Some skill is needed for scything, as beginners have learned to their chagrin when they first learn to use the device.
Scything is backbreaking work. Historically, members of farming communities took turns helping each other with the harvest, so that teams would work together to harvest the fields. The simplicity of the scythe made it easy to maintain and repair, and some farmers appreciated that the scythe works underwater as well as above ground, and that it could handle tangled and dense growth with ease when it was properly sharpened and used by someone with experience. The advantages are not enough to make the scythe superior to the tractor, however, which is why most communities have adopted mechanized farming implements.
Like other bladed implements, a scythe only works effectively when it is kept properly sharpened. It also needs to be stored properly, being oiled before storage to prevent rust and kept in a cool dry place. The snaith must also be maintained properly; if it begins to crack, it should be replaced.
The scythe has cultural importance in Europe and it appears in European symbolism and folklore. It is often associated with death due to the image of Death as the “harvester of souls.” Many depictions of Death, the Grim Reaper, Chronos, or Father Time depict this figure holding a scythe as a symbol of his job. As a result, for those interested in the history of the scythe, one place to look for depictions of scythes from various regions and historical periods is in artwork depicting Death.