The Story of Kairos
Kairos was the god of the opportune moment, the fleeting chance that must be seized. The traveler Pausanias says that the poet Ion of Chios called him the youngest child of Zeus. His name means the right or critical time, as different from Chronos, which means time in its ordinary flow.
The most famous image of Kairos was a bronze statue by the sculptor Lysippus at Sicyon. It showed a young man running on tiptoe with wings on his feet, holding a razor and a pair of scales, with a long lock of hair hanging over his forehead and the back of his head bald. A poem by Posidippus explained the meaning: you can seize opportunity by the forelock as it comes toward you, but once it has passed, there is nothing left to grab.
Kairos had an altar at Olympia near the entrance to the stadium, where athletes knew how much one perfect moment could matter. Greek speakers, doctors and generals all valued kairos, the skill of acting at exactly the right time. The idea still lives on whenever people speak of seizing an opportunity.
Kairos's Family Tree
Parents of Kairos
Partners of Kairos
Children of Kairos
Frequently Asked Questions About Kairos
Who is Kairos in Greek mythology?
Kairos is the god of the opportune moment, the fleeting right time to act.
What does Kairos look like?
Kairos was shown as a young man with winged feet and a long lock of hair at the front, but bald at the back. You could seize him as he approached, but once he passed, there was nothing to grab.
What is Kairos's Roman name?
The Romans called Kairos Occasio.
