“The First Flight”

Daedalus was an architect, a builder of temples and houses. On the island of Crete he built a labyrinth, a strange house with secret, twisting passageways and walks. It was for the Minotaur, the favourite monster of King Minos.

But as kings sometimes will, King Minos lost his temper over some small thing and locked Daedalus and his son Icarus in a tower. They escaped from the tower, but they could not escape from the island. King Minos watched all the ships.

"Very well", said Daedalus, "if we can't escape by sea, we'll try the sky. We shall fly, Icarus."

So Daedalus and Icarus set to work making wings from the feathers of many birds. They held the feathers together with wax and thread. At last they finished two pairs of wings and Daedalus fitted one pair to his own shoulders. Moving them slowly, like a great bird, he soared into the air. How beautiful it was! Icarus could hardly wait to try his own wings.

Daedalus returned soon and came down softly onto the grass. He helped Icarus fasten on his wings, and Icarus learned very quickly how to use them. After several days of practice, Daedalus and Icarus were ready to escape from the cruel king.

"Remember, Icarus," said Daedalus, "stay with me and you will be safe. Don‘t fly too high or the sun will melt your wings. And be careful not to fly too low or the sea‘s mists will clog your wings."

Icarus promised to be careful, but once he was in the air and felt his strong wings bearing him upward, he forgot his promise. Higher and higher he flew until he was so far above the earth that he could not hear his father‘s warning shouts. The air grew thin. The burning sun rushed toward him, and one small feather fluttered from his wings.

It was too late when Icarus felt the burn of the melting wax on his shoulders. His beautiful wings shed their feathers like leaves. Down, down he fell, so swiftly that his father could not reach him before he plunged into the sea.

Daedalus searched the water for his son for many days, but he never found him. At last he flew on alone and came to Sicily. There he built a temple to Apollo and hung up his wings as an offering to the god.