Greek mythology · mortal · flight, exhilarated ruin
Son of Daedalus, who escaped Crete on wings of wax and feathers. Warned to fly the middle course, he rose toward the sun in sheer exhilaration; the wax ran, and the sea that took him bears his name.
Imprisoned by Minos in the maze he himself built, Daedalus shapes wings of feather and wax for himself and his son. He warns Icarus to fly the middle course; the boy climbs into the sun's heat for joy, the wax runs, and the sea that receives him takes his name.