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Icarus

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Icarus was a boy in an old Greek story.

The Fall of Icarus, fresco from Pompeii, 40-79 AD
The Fall of Icarus, fresco from Pompeii, 40-79 AD

His father was Daedalus. He was a very skilled builder. Daedalus built a huge maze called a labyrinth. King Minos of Crete kept people there. To escape, Daedalus made two sets of wings. He used bird feathers, thread, and leather. He used beeswax to hold the feathers in place.

Gowy-icaro-prado
Gowy-icaro-prado

Daedalus gave a warning to his son. He said not to fly too low. The sea would make the feathers heavy. He also said not to fly too high. The heat from the sun would melt the wax. Icarus did not follow these rules. He felt very excited while flying. He soared high up toward the sun. The heat melted the wax on his wings. The feathers fell off like snow.

Herbert Draper - The Lament for Icarus - Google Art Project
Herbert Draper - The Lament for Icarus - Google Art Project

Icarus fell into the sea and drowned. His father was very sad. He named an island Icaria to remember him. The sea near that island is the Icarian Sea. Some people say the sun god Helios caused this. This story is used to talk about being too ambitious.

Gaziantep Zeugma Museum Daedalus mosaic 1871
Gaziantep Zeugma Museum Daedalus mosaic 1871
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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Gowy-icaro-prado.jpg
Gowy-icaro-prado.jpg
File:Gaziantep Zeugma Museum Daedalus mosaic 1871.jpg
Gaziantep Zeugma Museum Daedalus mosaic 1871.jpg
File:At Tenerife 2021 0099.jpg
At Tenerife 2021 0099.jpg
File:The Fall of Icarus, fresco from Pompeii, 40-79 AD.png
The Fall of Icarus, fresco from Pompeii,...
File:Pompeya Villa Imperiale 08.jpg
Pompeya Villa Imperiale 08.jpg
File:Herbert Draper - The Lament for Icarus - Google Art Project.jpg
Herbert Draper - The Lament for Icarus -...
File:'The Fall of Icarus', 17th century, Musée Antoine Vivenel.JPG
'The Fall of Icarus', 17th century, Musée...
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