Icarus

For other uses, see Icarus (disambiguation). Íkaros redirects here; for other uses, see Ikaros.

Icarus and Daedalus by Frederic Leighton

In Greek mythology, Icarus (Greek: Ἴκαρος, Latin: Íkaros, Etruscan: Vicare) was the son of the artificer Daedalus. Icarus was famous for his death by falling into the Icarian Sea near Icaria, the island southwest of Samos that still bears his name, when he flew too close to the sun, melting the wax holding his artificial wings together. His plight was routinely alluded to by Greek poets in passing, but was told in a nutshell in Pseudo-Apollodorus, Epitome of the Biblioteca) (i.11 and ii.6.3). Latin poets read more philosophy into the myth, briefly reported in Hyginus Fabulae 40, and at greater length in Ovid's Metamorphoses (viii.183-235) and his Art of Love. In the fifteenth century Ovid became the source for the myth as it was rediscovered and transformed as a vehicle for heroic audacity and the poet's own aspirations, by Renaissance poets like Jacopo Sannazaro and Ariosto, as well as in Spain.

Hellenistic writers who provided philosophical underpinnings to the myth also preferred more realistic variants, in which the escape from Crete was actually by boat, provided by Pasiphaë, for which Daedalus invented the first sails, to outstrip Minos' pursuing galleys, and that Icarus fell overboard en route for Sicily and was drowned. Heracles erected a tomb for him.

Pausanias (ix.11.2-3)

Story of Icarus

The Fall of Icarus as told by Thomas Bulfinch:

"Daedalus built the labrynth for King Minos, but afterwards lost the favour of the king, and was shut up in a tower. He contrived to make his escape from his prison, but could not leave the island by sea, as the king kept strict watch on all the vessels, and permitted none to sail without being carefully searched. “Minos may control the land and sea,” said Daedalus, “but not the regions of the air. I will try that way.” So he set to work to fabricate wings for himself and his young son Icarus. He wrought feathers together, beginning with the smallest and adding larger, so as to form an increasing surface. The larger ones he secured with thread and the smaller with wax, and gave the whole a gentle curvature like the wings of a bird. Icarus, the boy, stood and looked on, sometimes running to gather up the feathers which the wind had blown away, and then handling the wax and working it over with his fingers, by his play impeding his father in his labours. When at last the work was done, the artist, waving his wings, found himself buoyed upward, and hung suspended, poising himself on the beaten air. He next equipped his son in the same manner and taught him how to fly, as a bird tempts her young ones from the lofty nest into the air. When all was prepared for flight he said, “Icarus, my son, I charge you to keep at a moderate height, for if you fly too low the damp will clog your wings, and if too high the heat will melt them. Keep near me and you will be safe.” While he gave him these instructions and fitted the wings to his shoulders, the face of the father was wet with tears, and his hands trembled. He kissed the boy, not knowing that it was for the last time. Then rising on his wings, he flew off, encouraging him to follow, and looked back from his own flight to see how his son managed his wings. As they flew the ploughman stopped his work to gaze, and the shepherd leaned on his staff and watched them, astonished at the sight, and thinking they were gods who could thus cleave the air.

They passed Samos and Delos on the left and Lebynthos on the right, when the boy, exulting in his career, began to leave the guidance of his companion and soar upward as if to reach heaven. The nearness of the blazing sun softened the wax which held the feathers together, and they came off. He fluttered with his arms, but no feathers remained to hold the air. While his mouth uttered cries to his father it was submerged in the blue waters of the sea which thenceforth was called by his name. His father cried, “Icarus, Icarus, where are you?” At last he saw the feathers floating on the water, and bitterly lamenting his own arts, he buried the body and called the land Icaria in memory of his child. Daedalus arrived safe in Sicily, where he built a temple to Apollo, and hung up his wings, an offering to the god."

The Fall of Icarus (detail), by Pieter Brueghel, 1558: Icarus is seen flailing in the water, but is ignored

In popular culture

See Icarus imagery in contemporary films and television.

Icarus has also been referred to in much literature. For example Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Mrs Icarus" in her collection "The Worlds Wife". The title of the NES game, Kid Icarus is a reference to this story, or in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pit, one of the characters, has a skill called "Wings of Icarus", which temporarily allows him to fly. Iron Maiden penned and performed "Flight of Icarus", placing it on their Piece of Mind album, the song is a homage of sorts to this tale. In God of War 2 an insane and delusional verson of Icarus is a boss Kratos verses. The spaceships in Danny Boyle's science-fiction film Sunshine (2007) are called Icarus I and Icarus II. Icarus is also the name of a solo bass artist working in the UK. Icarus creates music using several bass guitars and computer software. More can be found at www.icarusbass.co.uk[1]

This has also been seen as a city to gamers in games such as MU.

The rock band Thrice recorded a song called "The Melting Point of Wax" that is based on the story of Icarus.

References

• Graves, Robert, (1955) 1960. The Greek Myths, section 92 passim
• Smith, William, ed. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
• Jack Gilbert poem, "Failing and Flying"

External links

• Daedalvs et Icarvs - original Latin text by Ovid (broken link?)
• [2] - Daedalus and Icarus - English translation of Ovid's prose