Here's how this works:
* Taverns as Places of Transition: Taverns were often seen as liminal spaces, places where travelers from different backgrounds and walks of life came together. This liminality made them inherently associated with change and the unknown, which, in turn, could symbolize the transition from life to death.
* Taverns as Places of Excess: Taverns were known for their revelry, drinking, and gambling. This excess often led to violence, disease, and even death, making them places where the fragility of life was easily perceived.
* Taverns as Places of Stories: Taverns were filled with stories, some of them about death, fate, and the inevitability of mortality. These stories, whispered among patrons, could cast a shadow of death over the space.
The Grim Reaper and the Tavern:
* The Grim Reaper's "Invitation": The Grim Reaper might be depicted as a shadowy figure lurking in the shadows of a tavern, inviting patrons to join him for a final drink. This image represents the constant presence of death, waiting for the opportune moment to claim its next victim.
* The Tavern as a "Waiting Room": The tavern, with its transience and sense of impermanence, could be seen as a metaphorical "waiting room" for death, where people are merely passing through before their inevitable end.
Remember: The association of taverns with death is not meant to be literal. Instead, it serves as a symbolic representation of the themes of mortality, fate, and the fleeting nature of life.