Daedalus And Icarus Story With Moral Lesson And Summary

DAEDALUS AND ICARUS – Let’s tackle a popular escape from the labyrinth with Daedalus and Icarus’s story with a moral lesson and summary. Their flight is the first of all men that the mythical world has ever seen.

In the story, Daedalus is a great inventor and architect in Greek mythology. He was good at his craft, so he didn’t want others to overshadow his skills. 

Continue reading this fascinating story, for you will be amazed, and your imagination will travel through the mythical tales of Greek mythology.

Daedalus and Icarus With Moral Lessons And Summary
Daedalus and Icarus With Moral Lessons And Summary

Daedalus and Icarus

Long ago, in Greek mythology, a prominent man created unbelievable things. Its name is Daedalus, a skilled worker who was an inventor, architect, and master craftsman.

Among his many inventions is a wooden cow for Queen Pasiphae and the Labyrinth on the island of Knossos in Crete for the Minotaur.

His homeland was Athens, but his parents were not formally known. For quite some time, his apprentice was Perdix, his sister’s son. He taught everything he knew but was afraid that Perdix could overshadow him.

Perdix made a pair of compasses that made Daedalus envious of his nephew’s achievement. He seized the opportunity to toss him from the hill of Acropolis.

However, he didn’t die, for Athena saved and turned him into a bird.

For a long time, King Minos of Crete and Daedalus were on good terms. He also offered his assistance to Pasiphae, King Minos’s wife.

He made Daedalus build a Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur. But their relationship deteriorated at some point.

It happened when Daedalus advised Princess Ariadne to give Theseus the thread that helped him come out of the labyrinth after killing the Minotaur.

King Minos was angered when he found out that Daedalus betrayed him. He is enraged at the loss of his daughter and his pet, the Minotaur.

READ: Theseus And The Minotaur Story With Moral Lesson And Summary

As a punishment, he imprisoned Daedalus and his son Icarus in the labyrinth. King Minos knows that if not for his help, Theseus could not accomplish the deed.

Icarus was the son of Daedalus and King Minos’s servant Naukrate. Daedalus is naturally sharp-witted and inventive; he thinks of a way for him and his son to escape the labyrinth.

However, King Minos controlled the sea around Crete and kept a watch on all the vessels. He also held the land, and there was no escape route there.

Daedalus perceived that the only way out of Crete was by air. But only the Olympian gods can fly.

Daedalus built wings for himself and Icarus to escape using feathers held together with wax. Daedalus tried the wings and was satisfied. Then he taught his son how to use the wings.

Before taking off, he instructed his son not to fly too high to the sun as it would melt his wings. Also, do not fly too low to the sea, for it would dampen your wings and make it hard to fly.

They successfully flew over Crete, but upon reaching Samos, Icarus became arrogant. He urged to fly higher, close to the sun, and ignored his father’s warning.

Until the wax melted and he began falling from the sky. He tried hard to flap, but his hands were now naked. He fell at sea and died drowning. His helpless father cried as he watched his son die.

Daedalus called the sea where he died the Icarian Sea and the land near the sea Icaria. Many have said that Hercules, passing by, gave Icarus a proper burial.

Daedalus grieved for his son and then continued his journey to Sicily. He stayed at the court of Cocalus in a place called Camicus.

On the south coast of Sicily, he built a temple for Apollo and hung up his wings as an offering to the god.

Meanwhile, the vengeful King Minos continued the search for Daedalus. In every city he visited, he rewarded whoever would thread a spiral sea shell. It is an impossible task that only Daedalus can do.

Eventually, King Minos came to Camicus in Sicily and presented his tricky contest. Cocalus knew about the talent of Daedalus and gave the shell to him.

Daedalus did the tricky task and solved the puzzle. When King Minos knew about it, he demanded Cocalus surrender Daedalus.

He promised to do so but first invited him to take a bath and stay for the entertainment. He agreed and was murdered by Cocalus’s daughter, who was impressed with Ddaedalus’s talent and gifts to her.

Daedalus eventually left Camicus and ended up in Sardinia.

Story Analysis Of Daedalus and Icarus

Daedalus’s clever plan to escape from King Minos was successful because they went off from the city of Crete. The wings that could help them fly through the air are unimaginable, but they worked.

It is the only way for them to escape the enraged king but his son, Icarus, is so naughty that he forgets his father’s instructions. As a result, he fell from the sky, drowned at sea, and died.

Daedalus and Icarus Moral Lesson

  • Flying too high without the right wings can make you fall faster than your sor high.
    • It is excellent to fly high as long as you have the right wings, but if you do, you will fall and might not come back up. Icarus is an excellent example of this event. He is ambitious and naughty that forgets his father’s instructions. Life can sometimes overwhelm us but do not rush. Enjoy every moment you have.
  • Discipline yourself in any situation and obey your elders.
    • The smart Daedalus maintained his momentum in flying and could continue his journey. On the other hand, Icarus was overwhelmed with the idea that he could fly and didn’t mind his father’s instructions.

Daedalus and Icarus Summary

In the story, Daedalus was a great inventor and architect. He invented a wooden cow for Queen Pasiphae and the Labyrinth on the island of Knossos in Crete for the Minotaur.

King Minos of Crete and Daedalus were on good terms for a long time. But their relationship deteriorated at some point. It happened when Daedalus advised Princess Ariadne to give Theseus the thread that helped him escape the labyrinth after killing the Minotaur.

As a punishment, he imprisoned Daedalus and his son Icarus in the labyrinth. King Minos controlled the land and sea around Crete, and there was no escape route.

Daedalus built wings for himself and Icarus to escape and taught his son how to use them. He instructed his son not to fly too high to the sun as it would melt his wings. Also, do not fly too low to the sea, for it would dampen your wings.

They successfully flew over Crete, but Icarus urged to fly higher, close to the sun and ignored his father’s warning. The wax melted, and he began falling from the sky, drowned at sea, and died.

Daedalus called the sea where he died the Icarian Sea and the land near the sea Icaria. He then continued his journey until he reached Camicus in Sicily.

Click and read these articles to learn more

Learn with englishtutorhub.com

Leave a Comment