% Background Today we think of myths as stories that have been passed down through countless generations. In the ancient civilization of Greece, myths were the basis of an elaborate system of beliefs. Myths explained theirmystifying world and offered wisdom on how to livein it. The myth of Daedalus and his son carus is one example. rr eee aero hye Dae ea SETTING A PURPOSE As you read, pay close attention to the choices Icarus and his father make. What do these choices reveal? Write down any questions you may have while reading, then Theseus escaped from the labyrinth, King Minos flew into a rage with its builder, Daedalus, and ordered him shut up in a high tower that faced the lonely sea. In time, with the help of his young son, Icarus, Daedalus managed to escape from the tower, only to find himself a prisoner on the island, Several times he tried by bribery to stow away on one ofthe vessels sailing from Crete/but King Minos kept strict watch over them, and no ships Were allowed to sail without being carefully searched{ Daedalus was an ingenious artist and was not discouraged by his failures. “Minos may control the land and sea,” he said, “but he does not control the air. I will try that way. He called his son, Icarus, to him and told the boy to gather up all the feathers he could find on the rocky shore. ‘The Fight of learusAs thousands of gulls soared over the island, Icarus soon collected a huge pile of feathers, Daedalus then melted some waxand made a skeleton in the shape ofa bird’s wing. The smallest feathers he pressed into the soft wax and the large ones he tied on with thread. Icarus played about on the beach 20 happily while his father worked, chasing the feathers that blew away in the strong wind that swept the island and sometimes taking bits of the wax and working it into strange shapes with his fingers. I was fun making the wings. The sun shone on the bright feathers; the breezes ruffled them, When they were finished, Daedalus fastened them to his shoulders and found himself lifted upwards, where he hung poised in the air. Filled with excitement, he made another pair for his son. They were smaller than his own, but strong and beautiful. x0 Finally, one clear, wind-swept morning, the wings were finished, and Daedalus fastened them to Icarus’s shoulders“ and taught him how to fly. He bade him watch the movements of the birds, how they soared and glided overhead. He pointed out the slow, graceful sweep of their wings as they beat the air steadily, without fluttering, Soon Iearus was sure that he, too, could fly and, raising his arms up and down, skirted over the white sand and even out over the waves, letting his feet touch the snowy foam as the water thundered and broke over the sharp rocks. Daedalus watched him proudly but 40 with misgivings. He called Icarus to his side and, putting his arm round the boy’s shoulders, said, “Icarus, my son, we are about to make our flight. No human being has ever traveled through the air before, and I want you to listen carefully to my instructions. Keep at a moderate height, for if you fly too low, the fog and spray will clog your wings, and if you fly too high, the heat will melt the wax that holds them together. Keep near me and you will be safe.” He kissed Icarus and fastened the wings more securely to his son’s shoulders. Icarus, standing in the bright sun, the s0_ shining wings dropping gracefully from his shoulders, his golden hair wet with spray, and his eyes bright and dark with excitement, looked like a lovely bird, Daedalus’s eyes filled with tears, and turning away, he soared into the sky, calling to Icarus to follow. From time to time, he looked back to see that the boy was safe and to note how he managed his wings in his flight. As they flew across the land to test their prowess before 32 Collection 1 moderate (amsd“ar-t) adj, When, something iskept moderate, itis kept within a certain limit prowess (pr00"%s) n Prowess Is the strength and courage someone has.setting out across the dark wild sea, plowmen below stopped their work and shepherds gazed in wonder, thinking Daédalus and Icarus were gods. Father and son flew over Samos and Delos, which lay on their left, and Lebinthus," which lay on their right. Icarus, beating his wings in joy, felt the thrill of the cool wind on his face and the clear air above and below him. He flew higher and higher up into the blue sky until he reached the clouds. His father saw him and called out in alarm. He tried to follow him, but he was heavier and his wings would not carry him. Up and up Icarus soared, through the soft, moist clouds and out again toward the glorious sun. He was bewitched by a sense of freedom and beat his wings frantically so that they frantic would carry him higher and higher to heaven itself: The _n"th) adhityou blazing sun beat down on the wings and softened the wax. Stawell Sinall feathers fell from the wings and floated softly down, ——_doitquickiyand Warning Icarus to stay his flight and glide to earth. But the neous enchanted boy did not notice them until the sun became so hot that the largest feathers dropped off and he began to sink Frantically he fluttered his arms, but no feathers remained to hold the air. He cried out to his father, but his voice was submerged in the blue waters of the sea, which has forever after been called by his name. Daedalus, crazed by anxiety, called back to him, “Icarus! anxiety Icarus, my son, where are you?” At last he saw the feathers oe a _ worried feing ‘Samos... Delos ..Lebinthus: (64°mbs".. d&16s.. Jubinthus} small Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea The Flight oftearus 33floating from the sky, and soon his son plunged through the clouds into the sea. Daedalus hurried to save him, but it was too late. He gathered the boy in his arms and flew to land, the tips of his wings dragging in the water from the double burden they bore. Weeping bitterly; he buried his small son and called the land Icaria in his memory. ‘Then, with a flutter of wings, he once more took to the air, but the joy of his flight was gonetand his victory over the air was bitter to him. He arrived safely in Sicily, where he built a temple to Apollo and hung up his wings as an offering to the god, and in the wings he pressed a few bright feathers he had found floating on the water where Icarus fell. And he mourned for the birdlike son who had thrown caution to the ‘winds in the exaltation of his freedom from the earth. )LLABORATIVE DISCUSSION In the last sentence, the author 1s that Icarus “had thrown caution to the winds'—he had made vold and risky move. How had both Icarus and Daedalus made Id and risky moves? Share your ideas with your group. Collection 1