The Flight of Icarus - Greek Mythology in Comics - See U in History - Webcomic (Daedalus and Icarus)

Summary

Daedalus, a renowned Athenian architect and inventor, fled to Crete after a crime and served King Minos. He built the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur but was later imprisoned himself with his son Icarus. To escape, Daedalus crafted wings of feathers and wax. Despite warnings, Icarus flew too close to the sun, melting the wax, and fell to his death. Daedalus mourned his son's tragic end, a cautionary tale of hubris and the perils of ignoring wise counsel.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Daedalus was a renowned Athenian architect and inventor in ancient Greece.
• 🏃‍♂️ After committing a crime, Daedalus fled to Crete to escape justice.
• 🤝 He offered his services to King Minos of Crete, who welcomed him.
• 🏰 Daedalus constructed the palace of Knossos among other projects for King Minos.
• 👪 He had a son named Icarus with an Egyptian slave while in Crete.
• 🕷️ Daedalus designed the labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature.
• 🔒 Both Daedalus and Icarus were imprisoned by King Minos, accused of treason.
• 🦅 To escape, Daedalus crafted wings made of feathers and wax for himself and Icarus.
• ⚠️ Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too low or too high to avoid damaging the wings.
• 🌞 Icarus ignored the advice, flew too close to the sun, and the wax on his wings melted.
• 💔 Icarus fell to his death, and Daedalus was unable to save him, leading to deep sorrow.

Q & A

Who was Daedalus and what was his profession?

Daedalus was a great Athenian architect and inventor renowned throughout Greece.

Why did Daedalus have to flee Athens?

Daedalus had to flee Athens after committing a dreadful crime to escape from the grip of justice.

Where did Daedalus become a refugee and who was the ruler of that place?

Daedalus became a refugee on the island of Crete, which was ruled by the mighty King Minos.

What was one of Daedalus' major projects during his stay in Crete?

One of Daedalus' major projects during his stay in Crete was the construction of the dazzling palace of Knossos.

Who was Icarus and how was he related to Daedalus?

Icarus was the son of Daedalus, born from a romantic affair Daedalus had with an Egyptian slave.

What was the purpose of the Labyrinth of Minos that Daedalus built?

The Labyrinth of Minos was built by Daedalus to imprison the Minotaur, a half-man half-bull creature.

Why were Daedalus and Icarus imprisoned in the Labyrinth?

Daedalus and Icarus were imprisoned in the Labyrinth because they were accused of conspiring against King Minos by helping the hero Theseus to defeat the Minotaur.

How did Daedalus plan their escape from the Labyrinth?

Daedalus planned their escape by constructing two pairs of massive wings made of wood, feathers, and beeswax for himself and his son Icarus to fly away.

What advice did Daedalus give to Icarus before they started flying?

Daedalus advised Icarus not to fly too low near the sea to avoid humidity and not to fly too high to prevent the sun from melting the beeswax, and to stay close to him at all times.

What was the tragic outcome of Icarus' flight?

Icarus flew too close to the sun, causing the wax on his wings to melt, leading to a loss of control and his eventual fatal fall into the ocean.

How did Daedalus react to Icarus' death?

Daedalus was unable to find Icarus during his search and later discovered his son's dead body on a beach. He lamented that his invention had caused the death of his beloved son.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Daedalus' Flight to Crete

Daedalus, a renowned Athenian architect and inventor, fled Athens after a crime and sought refuge on Crete under King Minos. He contributed to the construction of the palace of Nosos and had a son, Icarus, with an Egyptian slave. Despite his service, including the creation of the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus were imprisoned, accused of conspiring with Theseus. To escape, Daedalus crafted wings from feathers and beeswax for himself and Icarus.

Keywords

💡Daedalus

Daedalus was a great Athenian architect and inventor, known for his contributions to the field of engineering and design in ancient Greece. In the video, he is portrayed as a skilled artisan who flees to Crete after committing a crime. His expertise is utilized by King Minos, and he becomes a central figure in the construction of the labyrinth and the creation of wings for his escape with his son Icarus. The name Daedalus is synonymous with ingenuity and innovation, as he devises a daring plan to escape imprisonment using his own inventions.

💡Crete

Crete is an island and the setting of the video's narrative, where Daedalus seeks refuge after fleeing Athens. It is the land of King Minos, who is known for his powerful rule. The island serves as a backdrop for Daedalus's work and eventual imprisonment, as well as the launch point for his and Icarus's attempted escape. Crete is significant as it is the place where Daedalus's fate takes a dramatic turn, leading to the tragic end of his son Icarus.

💡King Minos

King Minos is depicted as the mighty ruler of Crete, who employs Daedalus in his court due to his exceptional skills. The king is associated with the construction of the labyrinth and the imprisonment of the Minotaur, which are significant elements in the story. His role in the narrative is that of a powerful figure whose actions and decisions have far-reaching consequences for Daedalus and Icarus, ultimately leading to their imprisonment.

💡Labyrinth

The labyrinth, designed and constructed by Daedalus, is a complex and intricate structure meant to house the Minotaur. It is a symbol of Daedalus's architectural prowess but also a trap that eventually ensnares him and his son. In the video, the labyrinth represents a challenge that must be overcome, and it is central to the plot as the place of Daedalus and Icarus's imprisonment.

💡Icarus

Icarus is the son of Daedalus, born from a romantic affair with an Egyptian slave. He is a central character in the narrative, as he is caught in the events that unfold after his father's imprisonment. Icarus's name is forever linked to the tragic story of his flight with wings made by his father, where he disregards Daedalus's advice and flies too close to the sun, leading to his downfall. Icarus's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and disobedience.

💡Wings

The wings are a pivotal invention by Daedalus, crafted from wood, feathers, and beeswax. They symbolize the ingenuity and desperation of Daedalus to escape from the labyrinth with his son. The wings are a metaphor for the human desire for freedom and the ability to soar beyond limitations. However, they also represent the fragility of human creations and the consequences of not heeding warnings, as seen in Icarus's tragic end.

💡Beeswax

Beeswax is used by Daedalus to glue the feathers to the wooden structures of the wings. It is a crucial component in the construction of the wings, as it holds the feathers in place, allowing Daedalus and Icarus to fly. However, beeswax is also the material that leads to Icarus's downfall when it melts due to the sun's heat, illustrating the delicate balance between success and failure in Daedalus's invention.

💡Freedom

Freedom is a central theme in the video, symbolized by the act of flying and the escape from the labyrinth. It represents the ultimate goal for Daedalus and Icarus, who are seeking to break free from imprisonment and the control of King Minos. The concept of freedom is explored through the characters' actions and desires, and it is ultimately what leads to Icarus's tragic mistake and fall.

💡Advice

The advice given by Daedalus to Icarus before their flight is a critical element in the narrative. He warns Icarus not to fly too low or too high, which serves as a metaphor for the importance of moderation and caution. The advice is a reflection of Daedalus's wisdom and experience, and Icarus's disregard for it leads to the tragic outcome, emphasizing the significance of heeding the guidance of others.

💡Tragedy

Tragedy is a key element in the video's narrative, encapsulated by the story of Icarus's fall. It is a dramatic event that results from a series of mistakes and misjudgments, highlighting the human propensity for error and the consequences that follow. The tragedy of Icarus serves as a poignant reminder of the potential for disaster when caution is ignored, and it is a central point in the moral of the story.

Highlights

Daedalus was a renowned Athenian architect and inventor in ancient Greece.

He fled Athens after committing a crime and sought refuge in Crete.

Daedalus served King Minos of Crete, contributing to the construction of the palace of Knossos.

Daedalus had a son named Icarus with an Egyptian slave while in Crete.

He designed the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull creature.

Daedalus and Icarus were falsely accused of conspiring against King Minos.

They were imprisoned in the very Labyrinth that Daedalus had built.

Daedalus devised an escape plan by constructing wings made of feathers and wax.

He warned Icarus not to fly too low or too high to avoid damaging the wings.

Daedalus and Icarus successfully escaped Crete by flying.

Icarus, in his excitement, ignored his father's advice and flew too close to the sun.

The sun's heat melted the wax, causing Icarus's wings to disintegrate.

Icarus fell from the sky into the ocean, meeting a tragic end.

Daedalus searched for his son but could only find his lifeless body on a beach.

The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and not heeding wise advice.

Daedalus lamented the loss of his son, attributing it to his own invention.

Transcripts

[Music]

dadolas

was a great athenian architect and

inventor renowned throughout greece

but after committing a dreadful crime he

was forced to flee athens

to escape from the grip of justice he

became a refugee on the island of crete

the land of the mighty king minos

daedalus offered his services to the

king who was pleased to have such a

skilled individual in his court

daedalus lived many years in crete

working for the king

the dazzling palace of nosos was one of

his several endeavors

during his stay at the court of minos

daedalus had a romantic affair

with an egyptian slave together they had

a son

who had become known as icarus years

later the architect was also responsible

for conceiving and building

the well-known labyrinth of minos where

he imprisoned the minotaur

a half-man half-bull creature

however all these efforts did not

prevent him and his son icarus

from being imprisoned in the labyrinth

of king minos

accused of conspiring against the king

by helping the hero

theseus to defeat the minotaur

daedalus knew that an escape from the

labyrinth was unlikely

even if he managed to the island of

crete

was patrolled by land and sea

by the army of minos after days

imprisoned in the tower

which had been his base during the

labyrinth's construction

the ingenious inventor had an unusual

idea

he asked his son to collect pieces of

wood while he sketched his new project

daedalus built wooden structures that

resembled bird wings

he collected a good number of feathers

from the seabirds which flew over the

labyrinth

then he finished his invention by

gluing them with beeswax he had built

two pairs of massive wings

one for him and one for his son daedalus

put on his wings and noticed that his

invention worked greatly

icarus was helped by his father to put

on his wings

and from him he received some advice

sun don't ever fly too low near the sea

so that humidity doesn't clock the

fragile gears

nor fly too high to prevent the sun from

melting the beeswax

stay close to me at all times

daedalus and icarus climb to the top of

the tower

then they bravely took off

at first they somehow struggled against

the wind

but they quickly managed to master the

flight motions

and left the island of crete the view

from the sky was simply

stunning both were in all

daedalus noticed that icarus was already

flying away from him

at a much higher height worried he

shouted at his son

but the youngster couldn't hear him

icarus was marveled

and flew with his eyes closed piercing

through the clouds

he was completely intoxicated by the

feeling of freedom

the young man was getting closer and

closer to the sun

suddenly he noticed that the sun's heat

was starting to melt the wax that

coupled the feathers

to the wing structure the feathers began

to fall

and icarus lost control of his flight

the wings started to disintegrate the

fall of icarus was unavoidable

he fell from the sky while his helpless

father

watched his son's fatal fall icarus

crashed

violently into the ocean daedalus flew

in search of his son but he could not

find him

after a strenuous search icarus father

found his son's body lying dead on a

beach

daidolus lamented that his invention had

caused the death

of his beloved son

[Music]

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