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ttle History of Daedalus
1) Daedalus (Greek: Daidalos) – Craftsman

2) Came from Athens

3) Had 2 sons: Icarus and Iapyx

4) Was a famous architect, inventor, and master craftsman

5) Had a apprentice called Talos / Perdix (nephew)

6) Killed Talos for fear of him surpassing him in skill

7) Banished from Athens and ran to Cretes

8) Offended King Minos and was locked in the Labyrinth

9) Escaped to King Cocalus of Sicily

10) Left Sicily and went to Sardinia to join a group by Iolaus

 Cunning Of Daedalus
 When Talos, his nephew, earned a great reputation
throughout Athens by inventing the saw, he devised to
murder Talos.
 He led Talos to the top of the Acropolis, and pushed him
down when he was looking the other way.
 He even told the passers-by that he was performing his
civic duty by telling them he was burying the carcass of a
great serpent.
 He even received respect because serpents were
treated with reverence, as the King (Erichtheus) was
said to be one from the waist down himself.
 Achievements of
Daedalus
1) made a hollow wooden cow covered with cow hide for Pasiphae
(King Mino’s wife) in order for her to consummate her relationship
with a sacred bull, which gives rise to the Minotaur.
 Achievements of Daedalus
2) made the famous Labyrinth of Crete, where the dark corridors were
intricately twisted and virtually impossible for those inside to come
out, for the Minotaur.
3) created wings out of bird feathers, thread and wax for himself and Icarus
to escape from King Minos
- made the folding chair, the compass, the axe,the bevel, sails,
statues in naturalistic poses (with eyes open and arms and legs
separated), painted / engraved images, plumbline, the auger/gimlet,
glue, isinglass (collagen for wine/beer)
-enlarged the summit of mount Eryx by a wall so as to make a firm
foundation for the temple of Aphrodite
- said to be the architect of a most beautiful propylaeum
to the temple of Hephaestus.
 Miscellaneous
-Daedalus arrived safely in Sicily, in the care of King Cocalus, where he built a
temple to Apollo, and hung up his wings, an offering to the god.
-Minos went in pursuit of Daedalus after he had escaped with Icarus,
hoping to trick the great inventor into revealing himself. At each city he
visited, Minos offered a reward to whomever could thread a spiral
seashell. Eventually, Minos came to Camicus in Sicily and presented
the contest at Cocalus' court. Cocalus knew of Daedalus' talents, and
gave the shell to him. The clever Daedalus tied the string to an ant,
place the ant at one end of the shell and put a little honey at the other
end, and allowed the ant to walk through the spiral chambers until it
came out the other end.
-Minos went over to Sicily to retrieve his prisoner but was killed by King
Of Sicily.
 What can be learned?
 The various instruments that Daedalus invented were
very essential for mankind.
 The invention of naturalistic statues and engraved
images gave a new edge to art and design itself.
 Icarus’ death served as a “lament” to Man’s nature of
curiosity, and also as a reflection of Man’s desire to fly,
and to freedom as well.
 The Roman poet Ovid said, “Some fisherman, perhaps
plying with his quivering rod, some shepherd leaning on
his staff, or a peasant bent over his plough handle
caught sight of them as they flew past and stood shock
in astonishment, believing that these creatures who
could fly through the air must be gods.”
 The killing of Talos also tells us that even a master
craftsman such as Daedalus can be jealous and evil as
well.
 It also reflects the cunning tactic of making use of
people, as Daedalus, went from King Erichtheus of
Athens to King Minos of Crete to the King of Sicily.