Once Daedalus had completed his own set of wings, he found that flapping them in the manner of a bird generated lift, so he made a second pair for his son.įather and son then prepared to make their escape from Crete. Ovid’s Metamorphoses (book 8, 183-235) describe how they did this, tying feathers together, securing them at their midpoints with string, then at their bases using beeswax. Daedalus therefore set about building himself and his young son Icarus sets of wings, so that they could fly from the island and escape. Because of his knowledge of the Labyrinth, Minos, the king of Crete, shut him up in a tower to prevent him from spreading that knowledge. It has also lent itself to contrasting treatments, which make it valuable for gaining insight into the techniques of narrative painting.Īccording to classical Greek legend, Daedalus was a master craftsman who was most famously responsible for creating the Labyrinth on Crete, which contained the Minotaur. If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content.The tragic death of Icarus is quite a popular story for narrative paintings from classical times onwards. Over time, both the Greek and Roman versions have contributed to the rich tapestry of Western literature, with the figure of Icarus serving as an enduring symbol of the dangers of unchecked ambition. Ovid’s rendition captures not just the physical fall of Icarus but the profound sorrow of a father witnessing the consequences of youthful recklessness. However, it is in the Roman adaptation, particularly Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”, that the story gains its lyrical and emotive depth. Apollodorus, in his “Bibliotheca”, provides a concise version of the myth, emphasizing the father’s warning to his son and the subsequent tragedy. To escape the king’s wrath, Daedalus fashioned wings for himself and Icarus. Within the Greek tradition, the narrative is situated within the larger story of Daedalus, Icarus’s father, an ingenious craftsman who designed the labyrinth for King Minos of Crete. The tale of Icarus, a young man who flew too close to the sun with waxen wings and met a tragic end, finds its roots in ancient Greek literature, most notably in the works of Ovid and Apollodorus. The Tale of Icarus in Roman and Greek Literature The place of his descent is said to be near an island which, after him, was named Ikaria. His tragic fall stands as a poignant reminder of the dangers of overambition and the consequences of not heeding wise counsel. The heat melted the wax on his wings, causing him to plummet into the sea and drown. ![]() Eager and emboldened by the thrill of flight, Icarus ignored his father’s counsel and soared higher, drawing near the sun. To escape imprisonment from the island of Crete, where King Minos held them captive, Daedalus crafted two pairs of wings made of feathers and wax.īefore their flight, he warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or too near the sea. He was the son of Daedalus, the renowned craftsman and inventor. Overconfidence sometimes produces disastrous results! Even today, some people recount this story as a cautionary warning, that underscores the perils of hubris and disobedience. Who was Icarus and what was the Cautionary Tale? – A Quick OverviewĪ young man named Icarus holds center stage in a very memorable tale from ancient Greek mythology.
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