Chronos Personification of Time

Chronos Personification of Time. Chronos (also transliterated as Khronos or Latinised as Chronus) is the personification of Time in pre-Socratic philosophy and later literature. Chronos governed linear, chronological time. The other Greek word for time is kairos, meaning the indeterminate moment that is right for something to occur.

late Louis XVI ormolu and porcelain mounted white marble mantel clock with cameo of Chronos — A late Louis XVI ormolu and porcelain mounted white marble mantel clock Date: circa 1790 Movement: two going barrels between circular plates, anchor escapement with thread suspended Apollo mask pendulum, count wheel striking hours and half hours on a bell Dial: white enamel, arabic chapters, minute ring with gilt hour markers, pierced gilt hands Case: In the form of a portico on shaped base, the case suspended between shaped pillars with applied ormolu flowers and foliage, flanked by oval porcelain cameos depicting Ceres, with a further laurel swag between incorporating a cameo of Chronos, all surmounted by a foliage topped urn Size: H 20 ½ in (52 cm), W 14 in (35.5 cm), D 4 ½ in (11.5 cm). Sold for US$ 4,375 at Bonhams

Chronos personification of time, The triumph of time — The triumph of time; Chronos as a winged figure with two crutches riding on a cart drawn by two stags to right; accompanied by figures ordered according to their age, from young children at right to an old man at left; in right background two children with a walking-frame; from a series of six engravings; another impression; various prominent tears repaired. c.1539 Engraving © The Trustees of the British Museum

Chronus Love helps to pass the time clock — This clock is modeled after a sculpture by the French artist Jean-Antonine Houdon entitled L’amour fait passer le Temps (‘Love helps to pass the time’). It depicts Cupid (the god of desire in classical mythology) steering Chronus, the personification of time, through choppy waters. It is made of biscuit porcelain, favoured by neo-classical sculptors as it mimics white marble. Victoria and Albert Museum

Chronos already was confused with, or perhaps consciously identified with, the Titan Cronus in antiquity due to the similarity in names. The identification became more widespread during the Renaissance, giving rise to the allegory of “Father Time” wielding the harvesting scythe.

He was depicted in Greco-Roman mosaics as a man turning the Zodiac Wheel. Chronos might also be contrasted with the deity Aion as Eternal Time (see aeon). Chronos is usually portrayed as an old, wise man with a long, grey beard, similar to Father Time.

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