Primary Sources Analysis Assignment - Icarus Myth

Daedalus, a talented architect, inventor and craftsman, did a favor for King Minos by building him a big labyrinth. However, after following the King’s instructions, Daedalus was thrown into the labyrinth along with his son Icarus. The King had no more use for him and expected that the inventor and his son would simply die there. Instead, unknown to the king, they escaped. After all, Daedalus had built the labyrinth and knew his way around!

Once out of the labyrinth Daedalus and Icarus carefully made their way to the shore of the island and pondered on what to do next. The trees and bushes surrounding the beach would provide an ideal sanctuary for the time being. But they needed to find a way to leave the island for good.

They could not swim, the nearest land was too far away, and they would never make it. They could not leave by ship; all vessels were controlled by King Minos. Daedalus stared up at the sky and the seagulls that circled overhead. If only he and his son could just fly away.

Then he had an idea which was both brilliant and ambitious. He would build a pair of wings! It would take some time, but he would build a pair of wings for his son and himself - exactly the same as the wings of a seagull but on a much larger scale.

Scattered around the beach were seagull feathers. Daedalus instructed his son to collect as many as he could find. He worked carefully to build the wings, studying the exact angle and shape of the seagulls and examining how the birds flew. At last, six weeks after they had escaped from the labyrinth, the wings were ready.

‘With these wings you will fly like a bird,’ Daedalus told his son, ‘but be careful. Make sure you do not fly too close to the Sun. If you do, the wax that holds the feathers together will melt.’ Icarus nodded quickly. In truth he was barely listening.

Daedalus ran forwards towards the ocean, sweeping his arms up and down as he did so. With a whoosh he zoomed forward, rising into the air. Icarus copied his father; suddenly he found his feet were no longer on the ground…he was in the air… he was flying! He couldn’t believe it!

Suddenly, Icarus realized he could hardly see his father. He had flown so high his father resembled a small dot below him. At the same time he noticed a feather drift past and float downwards towards the sea. And then another … and then another. It was too late when Icarus realized his wings were melting. He had flown too close to the Sun. With every desperate swoop of his arms, more feathers fell and soon his arms were almost bare. Down and down and down went Icarus. . .

'Father!’ he shouted before falling with a heavy splash into the sea. His few remaining feathers floated on the surface of the water as he sank.