Daedalus and Icarus

myminifactory

Daedalus, a renowned Athenian artisan of noble lineage, traced his ancestry back to Cecrops, the legendary first king of Athens. As an accomplished architect, sculptor, and inventor, he produced numerous iconic works that showcased his exceptional skill. Despite his confidence in his abilities, Daedalus was known to be fiercely competitive, particularly when it came to his nephew Talus, a talented young artisan who seemed destined for greatness. One day, while watching a snake use its jaws to catch prey, Talus conceived the idea of inventing the saw, a notion that filled Daedalus with intense jealousy. In a fit of rage, he pushed Talus off the Acropolis, an act that earned him exile to Crete and forced labor under King Minos' rule. During his time on the island, Daedalus fell deeply in love with Naucrate, a beautiful mistress-slave of the king, and they had a son named Icarus together. Daedalus devised a plan to escape from the Labyrinth with Icarus by constructing wings made of feathers and wax. Before setting off, he warned his son to fly neither too low nor too high, as the waves could damage the wings or the sun's heat could melt the wax. However, Icarus, driven by the thrill of flying, ignored his father's advice and soared too close to the sun, causing the wax in his wings to melt and sending him plummeting into the sea. Daedalus managed to escape to Sicily, while Icarus' body washed up on a previously unnamed island. This relief sculpture depicts Daedalus as he crafts wings for his son.