A-Z: General definitions: Daedalus and Icarus

Definition

Daedalus, father of Icarus, constructed the Labyrinth for king Minos. Later Minos accused him of providing the thread which Ariadne then gave to Theseus so that he could kill the Minotaur and escape from the Labyrinth. Minos accordingly refused to allow Daedalus and his son Icarus to leave Crete. Undeterred Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and his son. The island of Icaria and the Icarian Sea to the south of it bear witness to how far the pair succeeded in flying before disaster overcame Icarus who, ignoring his father's instructions, flew too close to the sun. The wax of his wings melted and he plunged to his death.

Related Topics

Minotaur

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