Daedalus and Icarus

Daedalus and Icarus

Daedalus was a famous inventor and craftsman who lived on the

island of Crete for many years. He wanted to return to Athens where he

was born but the King of Crete ordered him to stay on the island.

“The king may rule the land and the sea”, said Daedalus, ‘but he

certainly does not rule the sky.” When he had said this, he decided to

make some wings. There were a huge number of feathers of all sizes

and shapes lying on the shores of the island, so Daedalus collected

them and bound them together with wax. The wings were so good that

when they were finished, Daedalus jumped off a cliff and they bore his

weight easily. He then built another pair for his son, Icarus, as he would

not leave him behind when he escaped.

When these wings were finished, Daedalus warned his son, “When

you fly, keep in the middle course. Don’t fly too low or the water from the

waves will drench the wings and you will fall into the sea. And don’t fly

too high or the heat of the sun will melt the wax holding the wings

together.”

Icarus was so thrilled by the excitement of flying that he flew too

near the sun and his wings melted.

He fell into the sea and was drowned.