View source for Father Time

{{short description|Personification of time passing}}
{{About|the personification of time|the weathervane at Lord's Cricket Ground|Father Time (Lord's)|other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
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'''Father Time''' is a [[personification]] of [[time]], in particular the progression of history and the approach of death. In recent centuries, he is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, sometimes with [[Bird wing|wings]], dressed in a robe and carrying a [[scythe]] and an [[hourglass]] or other timekeeping device.

As an image, the origins of "Father Time" are varied.<ref>Hall, 119</ref> The ancient Greeks themselves began to associate ''[[Chronos]] [[Protogenos]]'' with the god [[Cronus|Cronos]], who had the attribute of a harvester's [[sickle]]. The Romans equated Cronos with [[Saturn (mythology)|Saturn]], who also had a sickle, and was treated as an old man, often with a crutch. The wings and hourglass were early Renaissance additions and he eventually became a companion of the [[Grim Reaper]], [[Personifications of death|personification of Death]], often taking his scythe. He may have as an attribute a [[Ouroboros|snake with its tail in its mouth]], an ancient Egyptian symbol of eternity.<ref>Hall, 119–120</ref>
[[File:Grave_memorial_3.jpg|thumb|upright|Father Time on an Irish memorial stone, displaying an empty hourglass to a mourning [[widow]]]]

==New Year==
Around [[New Year's Eve]], the media (in particular [[editorial cartoons]]) use the convenient [[Trope (literature)|trope]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Luckovich Copyright 2010 Creators Syndicate |url=http://theweek.com/section/cartoon/0/210634/all-cartoons |title=Father time takes a beating – Foreign Relations Political and Editorial Cartoons |work=The Week |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref> of Father Time as the personification of the previous year (or "the Old Year") who typically "hands over" the duties of time to the equally allegorical [[Baby New Year]] (or "the New Year") or who otherwise characterizes the preceding year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/bysubject/subjectbyartist.php?id=92&sid=6259M |title=The Father Time Comics and Cartoons – Cartoonist Group – Lisa Benson's Editorial Cartoons |publisher=Cartoonist Group |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=dePIXion studios www.depixion.com |url=http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/94366/ |title=AAEC – Political Cartoons |publisher=Editorialcartoonists.com |access-date=2012-08-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308211042/http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/94366/ |archive-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> In these depictions, Father Time is usually depicted wearing a sash with the old year's date on it.

Time (in his allegorical form) is often depicted revealing or unveiling the allegorical Truth, sometimes at the expense of a personification of Falsehood, Fraud, or Envy. This theme is related to the idea of ''veritas filia temporis'' (Truth the daughter of time).

==In the arts==
{{Example farm|section|date=March 2021}}
Father Time is an established symbol in numerous cultures and appears in a variety of art and media. In some cases, they appear specifically as Father Time while in other cases they may have another name (such as [[Saturn (mythology)|Saturn]]), but the characters demonstrate the attributes which Father Time has acquired over the centuries.

===Art===
====Visual art====
[[File:Romanelli Chronos and his child.jpg|thumb|''Chronos and his child'' by [[Giovanni Francesco Romanelli]], [[National Museum, Warsaw|National Museum]] in [[Warsaw]], is a 17th-century depiction of Titan [[Cronus]] as "Father Time" wielding the harvesting scythe]]
[[File:Mt Moriah Philly John H Jones grave.JPG|thumb|Father Time statue atop a grave at [[Mount Moriah Cemetery (Philadelphia)|Mount Moriah Cemetery]]]]
* ''[[Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time|Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time]]'', a c.1545 painting by [[Agnolo Bronzino]], [[National Gallery]], London.
* ''An Allegory of Truth and Time'', a 1584–85 painting by [[Annibale Carracci]], [[Royal Collection Trust]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/404770/an-allegory-of-truth-and-time|title=An Allegory of Truth and Time|date=2017|website=Royal Collection Trust|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>
* ''An Allegory of Truth'', a 1596 painting by [[Gillis Coignet|Gillis Coignet the Elder]], showing Time presenting Truth.
* ''Time Rescuing Truth from Envy (Veritas Filia Temporis)'', a sixteenth-century print after [[Hieronymus Bosch]], [[Baillieu Library]], Melbourne.
* ''[[Marie de' Medici cycle#The Triumph of Truth|The Triumph of Truth]]'' (showing Time rescuing Truth), part of the 1622–1625 [[Marie de' Medici cycle]] of paintings by [[Peter Paul Rubens]], [[Louvre]].
* ''Time Vanquished by Love, Hope & Beauty'', a 1627 painting by [[Simon Vouet]], features Saturn in his incarnation as Father Time as the central figure, [[Prado]] Madrid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/online-gallery/on-line-gallery/obra/time-vanquished-by-hope-love-and-beauty/ |title=Museo Nacional del Prado: On-line gallery |publisher=Museodelprado.es |date=15 September 2009 |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref>
* ''[[A Dance to the Music of Time (painting)|A Dance to the Music of Time]]'', a 1634–1636 painting by [[Nicolas Poussin]], shows Time strumming a stringed instrument while several allegorical figures dance, [[Wallace Collection]], London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=65042|title=A Dance to the Music of Time|website=The Wallace Collection|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
* ''Landscape with Time and Truth'', a 1639 painting by Nicolas Poussin.
* ''Time Defending Truth Against the Attacks of Envy and Discord'', c. 1641, ceiling painting by [[Nicolas Poussin]].
* ''Time Reveals the Truth'', a 1650 painting by [[Theodoor van Thulden]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://vcrfl.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/theodoor-van-thulden-time-revealing-truth-c-1650/|title=Theodoor van Thulden: Time Revealing Truth, c. 1650|date=2012-01-11|work=Vivat! Crescat! Floreat!|access-date=2017-11-13|language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Time Reveals the Truth: The Allegory'', a 1657 painting by Theodoor van Thulden, [[State Hermitage Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/digital-collection/01.+Paintings/48369/?lng=en|title=Time Reveals the Truth. The Allegory|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>
* ''Time Being Overcome by Truth'', a c. 1665 painting by [[Pietro Liberi]], private collection.
* ''Vanitas: Time Reveals the Truth'', a c.1670 painting by [[Giovanni Domenico Cerrini]].
* ''Time Destroys Beauty'', a seventeenth-century painting by Giovanni Domenico Cerrini.
* ''Time Revealing Truth'', late seventeenth or early eighteenth century painting by [[Sebastiano Ricci|Sebastiano Ricci Belluno]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/sebastiano-ricci-belluno-1659-1734-venice-time-revealing-4892958-details.aspx|title=Sebastiano Ricci Belluno 1659-1734 Venice|website=Christie's|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>
* ''Time Unveiling Truth'', a 1733 painting by [[Jean François de Troy|Jean-François De Troy]], [[National Gallery]], London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jean-francois-detroy-time-unveiling-truth|title=Time Unveiling Truth|website=The National Gallery|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
* ''Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy'', a 1737 painting by [[François Lemoyne|François Le Moyne]], [[Wallace Collection]], London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=65326|title=Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy|website=The Wallace Collection|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
* ''Time Unveiling Truth'', a c. 1743 painting by [[Giovanni Battista Tiepolo]], Museo Civico Palazzo Chiericati, [[Vicenza]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.museicivicivicenza.it/en/mcp/opera.php/9682?q=titoloen=Time&amp;cerca=t|title=Truth Unveiled by Time - Civic Art Gallery of Palazzo Chiericati - Musei Civici Vicenza|website=www.museicivicivicenza.it|language=en|access-date=2017-11-13}}</ref>
* ''Time Uncovering Truth'', a 1745 oval painting by [[Charles-Joseph Natoire]], part of the [[Waddesdon Manor|Waddesdon Rothschild Collections]], Aylesbury, UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://collection.waddesdon.org.uk/search.do?view=detail&page=1&id=41236&db=object|title=Time Uncovering Truth|last=Plock|first=Phillippa|date=2011|website=Waddesdon Collection|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
* ''[[Time Unveiling Truth (Tiepolo)|Time Unveiling Truth]]'', a 1745–1750 painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston|Museum of Fine Arts]], Boston.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/time-unveiling-truth-33707|title=Time Unveiling Truth|website=Museum of Fine Arts, Boston|access-date=22 October 2017}}</ref>
* ''Time Hunting Envy and Discovering Truth'', an eighteenth-century fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo at the Villa Loschi-Zileri outside of [[Vicenza]], Italy.
* ''Truth Rescued by Time, Witnessed by History'', an 1812–1814 painting by [[Francisco Goya]], [[Nationalmuseum]], Stockholm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://collection.nationalmuseum.se/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=artist&objectId=8182&viewType=detailView|title=Truth, Time and History|website=Nationalmuseum|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>
* Father Time was the logo for the [[Elgin National Watch Company|Elgin Watch Company]], with Father Time's traditional hourglass traded out for a pocket watch.

====Sculpture====
* [[Father Time (Lord's)|Father Time]] is a [[weather vane]] at [[Lord's Cricket Ground]], London, in the shape of Father Time.
* Father Time is the central figure in [[Lorado Taft]]'s 1922 Chicago fountain, ''[[Fountain of Time]]''.
* Father Time, complete with scythe, is the central figure in the ''Rotunda Clock'' by [[John Flanagan (sculptor)|John Flanagan]], located in the rotunda of the [[Thomas Jefferson Building]] of the [[Library of Congress|U.S. Library of Congress]] in Washington, D.C..
* ''Father Time and the Virgin'' is a statue located on the [[cupola]] of the [[Masonic Hall (Mendocino, California)|Masonic Hall at Mendocino, California]].
* An old statue of Father Time sits on the grounds at [[Sandringham Estate]] in Norfolk, England.
* A clock featuring Father Time, created by Guéret Frêres, Atelier Cartier, and Vincenti et Cie, may be viewed in the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/120024159 |title=The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Clock with Father Time |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref> The museum also owns a drawing that is a study for a similar clock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/90000748 |title=The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Father Time on a Globe; Design for a Clock |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |date=3 April 2012 |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref>
* ''[[Truth Unveiled by Time (Bernini)|Truth Unveiled by Time]]'' is the name and subject of a sculpture by [[Gian Lorenzo Bernini|Bernini]], though the figure of Time was never executed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/opera/truth-revealed-by-time|title=Truth Revealed by Time {{!}} Galleria Borghese - Sito ufficiale|website=galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it|access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref>

===Books===
* Old Father Time appears in the fantasy novel series ''[[Nightside (book series)|Nightside]]'' by [[Simon R. Green]], as an elderly character tending to peoples' needs for time travel—and in some cases—guidance.
* Father Time appears in the fairy tale themed short story, written by [[L. Frank Baum]]. Entitled "The Capture of Father Time". That Father Time was captured by the son of an Arizonian cowboy named Jim because of his foolishness.
* Time is one of the ''[[Incarnations of Immortality]]'' in [[Piers Anthony]]'s series of the same name. Time (also referred to as "Chronos") appears in several of the books and is the main character of ''[[Bearing an Hourglass]]''. For most of the series he appears as a middle-aged man in a blue robe (which has the power to age to oblivion anything which attacks him) and bearing an hourglass which he can use to control the flow of time and move through both time and space.
* Father Time is painted in the ceiling of the dungeon, in the [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s short story "[[The Pit and the Pendulum]]".
* In [[Mitch Albom]]'s book ''[[The Time Keeper]]'', Dor, the central character, is Father Time. He is freed from exile and sent to Earth on the condition that he teaches two people on Earth the true importance of time, a teenage girl who does not wish to live anymore, and a dying old billionaire who wishes to live forever.
* "Little Father Time" is a character in ''[[Jude the Obscure]]'', a novel by [[Thomas Hardy]]. The name is given to Jude Fawley's son, who is dreadfully melancholy and who commits suicide and kills his siblings at a young age.
* Father Time also appears in [[C. S. Lewis]]' novels ''[[The Silver Chair]]'' and ''[[The Last Battle]]'' which are the final two novels (chronologically) in the series ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]''.
* In Lewis Carroll's [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]], he is referred to as Time and is responsible for making the [[Hatter (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Hatter]] and his friends to have an endless tea party as punishment.

===Comics, magazines and periodicals===
* Father Time made numerous appearances in the classic comic ''[[Little Nemo in Slumberland]]'', both as a general representation of time and as a symbol of the new year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comicstriplibrary.org/display/127 |title=Digital Collection of Classic Comic Strips |publisher=Comic Strip Library |date=31 December 1905 |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comicstriplibrary.org/display/425 |title=Digital Collection of Classic Comic Strips |publisher=Comic Strip Library |date=29 December 1907 |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref>
* A [[Norman Rockwell]] painting of Father Time appeared on 31 December 1910 cover of ''[[The Saturday Evening Post]]''.
* Father Time is a recurring character in Tatsuya Ishida's webcomic ''[[Sinfest]]'', often appearing as an infant immediately on or after the Western New Year, and as an old man fated to die during the end of the year.
* Father Time appears in [[Neil Gaiman]]'s graphic novel ''[[The Sandman: Overture]]'', depicted as father to the [[Endless (comics)|Endless]]{{snd}}seven embodiments of natural forces{{snd}}through marriage to Mother [[Nyx|Night]].

===Film and television===
* Father Time appears in ''[[The Blue Bird (1940 film)|The Blue Bird]]'' played by [[Thurston Hall]].
* The scythe and the hourglass are referenced by the character Johannes in ''[[Ordet]]''.
* Father Time appears in ''[[Our Mr. Sun]]'' voiced by [[Lionel Barrymore]].
* Father Time appears in ''[[The Blue Bird (1976 film)|The Blue Bird]]'' played by [[Robert Morley]].
* Father Time appears in the television special ''[[Rudolph's Shiny New Year]]'' voiced by [[Red Skelton]]. He is depicted as an old friend of [[Santa Claus]] and serves as the narrator of the special.
* Father Time appears as a recurring character in ''[[The Smurfs (1981 TV series)|The Smurfs]]'' voiced by [[Alan Oppenheimer]]. His workshop is depicted as being underground. Father Time's Reverse Clock was responsible for turning Nat, Snappy, and Slouchy into Smurflings and he can't undo the transformation because of how time works.
* Father Time appears as one of the main characters in ''[[Histeria!]]'' voiced by [[Frank Welker]].
* In ''[[Flint the Time Detective]]'', the Old Timer is depicted as a Father Time-like character.
* Father Time appears in ''[[The Santa Clause 2]]'' and ''[[The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]]'' portrayed by [[Peter Boyle]]. He is shown as a member of the Council of Legendary Figures alongside Santa Claus, the [[Easter Bunny]], [[Cupid]], [[Mother Nature]], the [[Sandman]], the [[Tooth fairy|Tooth Fairy]], and [[Jack Frost]].
* In the ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'' episode "You Can't Always Get What You Carpet", Justin Russo ([[David Henrie]]) says "It's 8:00" and Jerry Russo ([[David DeLuise]]) retorts "Who are you, Father Time?"
* Father Time appeared in ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy]]'' episode "The Halls of Time" voiced again by Alan Oppenheimer. He's inspired by the aforementioned ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year'' portrayal as he too works with a baby that represents Happy New Year.
* Father Time appeared in ''[[Regular Show]]'' episode called "It's Time" voiced by Alan Sklar. He appears to be made out of clocks and wears a purple hat. 
* A song in the animated version of ''[[Charlotte's Web]]'' is titled "Mother Earth and Father Time".
* Father Time (The Sage of Time) is the leader of the [[Tapestry of Nations]] parade at [[Epcot]] during the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration.
* Father Time is a character that appears in ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'' episode "[[Timmy's Secret Wish!]]" voiced by [[Jeff Bennett]].
* A ghost in ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' is similar to Father Time and is named Clockwork (voiced by [[David Carradine]]). He is known as the master of time and is depicted as a child, young man, and old man in a constantly changing cycle. Clockwork also has a variety of timekeeping devices on his person, and wields a staff that can be transformed into a scythe. He first appeared in the special episode "The Ultimate Enemy".
* Father Time appeared in a version of ''[[YooHoo & Friends (2012 TV series)|YooHoo & Friends]]'' produced by [[David Feiss]] where he is voiced by rapper [[Flavor Flav]]). He was depicted as a blue Viking-like ogre who had transformed five business executives into cute animals.
* Father Time appears in season 3, episode 3 of ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'' at [[Nucky Thompson]]'s New Year's Eve party.
* Father Time appears in the ''[[Star vs. the Forces of Evil]]'' episodes "Freeze Day", "Mathmagic", and "Beach Day", voiced by [[Jim Gaffigan]].
* In ''[[Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016 film)|Alice Through the Looking Glass]]'', [[Sacha Baron Cohen]] portrays Time, a human/clockwork humanoid who controls all of Wonderlands timeline and has possession of a device called the Chronosphere.
* Ouro Kronii, AKA the Warden of Time, a member of Hololive EN's 2nd Generation (AKA HoloCouncil) is based on Father Time.

===Music===
* "Father Time" is a song, composed by [[Ralph Towner]], from Ralph Towner, [[Wolfgang Muthspiel]] and Slava Grigoryan's album "Travel Guide".
* "Father Time" is a song from [[power metal]] band [[Stratovarius]]'s album ''[[Episode (Stratovarius album)|Episode]]''.
* "Father Time" is a song from [[power metal]] band [[Majestica]]'s album ''Above the Sky''.
* "Father Time" is a song from [[hard rock]] band [[Shark Island (band)|Shark Island]]'s album ''Law of the Order''.
* "Father Time" is the name of a song on Richie Sambora's album ''[[Stranger in This Town]]''.
* "Father Time" is the name of a song on Blind Melon's album ''[[For My Friends]]''.
* "Father Time" is the name of a song on Animal Collective's album ''[[Centipede Hz]]''.
* "Father Time" is the name of a song on [[Kendrick Lamar]]'s album ''[[Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers]]''.
* "Father Time" is the name of a song on [[Jon Oliva]]'s solo album ''[[Raise the Curtain]]''.
* "FatherTime" is the name of a song on [[Bones (rapper)]] album ''[[OFFLINE]]''.
* "Old Father Time" is the name of a song on [[Peter Yarrow]]'s album ''That's Enough for Me''.
* "Father Time" is the nickname for bassist [[Leland Sklar]].
* "Father Time" is referenced in Lil' Wayne's song ''[[6 Foot 7 Foot]]''.
* "Father Time" is referenced in the [[Death Cab for Cutie]] song ''[[What Sarah Said]]''.
* "Father Time" is referenced in the [[Metallica]] song ''[[Minus Human]]''.
* "Father Time" and "[[Chronos]]" are referenced in the [[Megadeth]] two-part song ''[[Risk (Megadeth album) |Time: The Beginning]]'' and ''[[Risk (Megadeth album)|Time: The End]]''.
* "Father Time" is referenced in the [[Mark Chesnutt]] and [[Don Everly]] song ''[[Brother Jukebox]]''.
* "Father Time" is referenced in the [[Parkway Drive]] song ''[[Home Is for the Heartless]]''.
* "Father Time" is referenced in the [[Deep Purple]] song ''[[=1|I'll Catch You]]''.

==See also==
* [[Corpus Clock]], with the beastly-looking "chronophage" ("time eater"), a kind of personification of time
*[[Chronos]]
* [[Kaal]]
* [[Methuselah]]
* [[God the Father]] 
* [[Mother Nature]]
* [[Zurvan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

*Hall, James, ''Hall's Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art'', 1996 (2nd edn.), John Murray, {{ISBN|0719541476}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.novareinna.com/festive/oft.html "Old Father Time" on Penumbra]

{{Time in religion and mythology}}
{{New Year}}

[[Category:Holiday characters]]
[[Category:Personifications]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Iconography]]
[[Category:Cronus]]