the story of Daedalus and Icarus
Daedalus lived during the height of the Minoan civilization
and was one of the greatest inventors and builders of the
period. The building of the labyrinth and the construction of
the wooden cow that enabled Pasiphae to copulate with the bull
are attributed to him. When Minos learnt of Daedalus' treachery
he imprisoned him in a tower. With all other means of escape
seemingly denied to him, Daedalus set to constructing wings for
himself and his son, Icarus, so that they could fly out.
Tying feathers together in the shape of the wings of a bird, he
secured them at their base with wax. After much experimentation
and practice Daedalus felt both he and Icarus were ready to
escape. Before setting off he warned Icarus not to fly too high
because the heat of the sun would melt the wax. They had made
good progress, passing Samos, Delos and Lebynthos and Icarus,
impressed by the height and speed, with which he was able to
fly, went too high and close to the sun which softened the wax
and caused the feathers to fall out.
Icarus plummeted down into the sea and drowned. According to
another version of the story, Pasiphae gave Daedalus a boat and
helped him to escape from Crete. Apparently the boat was very
fast and its sails appeared as wings, giving rise to the idea
that Daedalus and Icarus had flown away. Nevertheless, in both
versions of the legend, Icarus falls into the sea and drowns and
the land near where he fell into the sea was named Icaria..