Daedalus & Icarus

INFAMOUS
INGENUITY
LABYRINTH
APPRENTICE
RIVET
 “The island of Crete is feared because of
its infamous labyrinth.”

INFAMOUS
- well known for being bad; known for
evil acts or crimes.
 “Daedalus showed amazing ingenuity
when he contrived the labyrinth.”

INGENUITY
- skill or cleverness that allows someone
to solve problems or invent things.
 “Daedalus invented a complex labyrinth
with many twists and turns to imprison the
monster.”

LABYRINTH
- a place that has many confusing paths
or passages.
 “Perdix was an apprentice who worked
under the supervision of Daedalus.”

APPRENTICE
- a person who learns a job or skill by
working for a period of time for someone
who is very good at that job or skill.
 “Perdix put two pieces of iron together,
connecting them with a rivet.”

RIVET
- a kind of metal bolt or pin that is used to
hold pieces of metal together.
 OVID
*Compendium of mythology
*A roman poet who told amongst
all the stories and told them with
great length.
*Themes of writings were often
about love, seduction and
mythological transformations.
 APOLLODORUS

*Next to Ovid, most

voluminous ancient writer of
mythology.
 NICK PONTIKIS
*Born on July 15, 1880.
*His motherland is Greece and the rich
history of his country inspired him to
write his best selling book “Daedalus
& Icarus” which is one of the well-
known stories in Greek Literature.
THE CHARACTERS
DAEDALUS
- “skilled worker”
- Famous architect, inventor, and master craftsman
- Had a beloved son named Icarus.
- Served King Minos, the king of Crete.
ICARUS
-The son of Daedalus
who failed to listen to
his father’s
reminders.
-Was imprisoned in
the labyrinth with his
father.
KING MINOS
-The king of Crete
-Husband of Queen
Pasiphae, who tried
to trick Poseidon
-Asked Daedalus to
build the labyrinth
QUEEN PASIPHAE
-The queen of Minos,
Crete
-Punished to fall in
love with the white
bull
-The mother of the
Minotaur.
MINOTAUR
-The offspring of
Queen Pasiphae and
the wonderfully
beautiful bull
-A monster, half bull
half human
POSEIDON
-The God of the Sea
-Gave Minos the
white bull to be
sacrificed to him.
ARIADNE
-The daughter of
Minos and Pasiphae
who fell in love with
Theseus
THESEUS
-The greatest Athenian
hero
-The son of King
Aegeus
-Slayed the Minotaur
KING AEGEUS
-The King of
Athens
-The reason of
Athens’ terrible
misfortune
KING COCALUS
-The King of
Camicus
-Gave refuge to
Daedalus
Daedalus was a famous architect, inventor, and master
craftsman whose name means “skilled worker”. He had
a beloved son Icarus.

Among his many inventions and creations were the masts and
sails for ships for the navy of Minos, statues that look alive,
wooden cow for Queen Pasiphae and the Labyrinth of Crete.

Minos has a dear son, Androgeus (only son), who died when
Aegeus sent him on an expedition full of peril – to kill a
dangerous bull.
Island of Crete
Masts with Sails
Labyrinth
Minos invaded and captured Athens and declared that he would
raze the city to the ground, unless;
ATHENS WOULD SEND A TRIBUTE OF 7 MAIDENS & 7
YOUTHS EVERY 9 YEARS TO CRETE

The tribute will be devoured and eaten by the Minotaur.

 Offspring of Queen
MINOTAUR Pasiphae and the
beautiful white bull

-given by Poseidon to Minos to

sacrifice to him
Daedalus constructed - Minos kept it for himself
the wooden cow as - Poseidon punished him by
ordered by Minos for making Pasiphae fall in love
Pasiphae in order to with the bull.
satisfy her amorous
longings for the bull.
Wooden cow
Later on, Pasiphae gave birth to the Minotaur. Minos asked
Daedalus to construct the labyrinth to imprison the monster.

After many years of giving tribute, Theseus (the greatest

hero of Athens) and the son of Aegeus offered himself to be
one of the tributes.

It is a custom in Crete to make the tributes parade around the

island on their way to the labyrinth.
 Ariadne saw Theseus during the parade and instantly fell in
love with him. She was determined to save Theseus.

She sent for Daedalus and ask him a way to escape the
labyrinth.

She asked for Theseus and told him he would help her escape the
labyrinth but promised her that he would take her back to Athens
with him and marry her.
 The Escape of Theseus

- Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of flaxen thread as

instructed by Daedalus.
- This thread should be fastened at one end to the inside
of the door and unwind as he goes inside the maze.
- The Minotaur was asleep when Theseus found it. It
was battered by Theseus own fists.
- Theseus fled with Ariadne and the other tributes.
 The Punishment of Daedalus

- Minos imprisoned Daedalus with his son Icarus in the

labyrinth after Theseus has slain the Minotaur.
- Daedalus knew that escape is impossible by land or
water.
- He made two pairs of wings (seagulls) fastened by
wax.
- He warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or too
low to the sea.
- Icarus fell and drowned (Icarian Sea)
- Daedalus continued his escape and landed in
Camicus, in King Cocalus’ court.
- South coast of the island, he built a temple of Apollo
and hung up his wings and offered it to the Olympian
god.
- Minos learned his escape and went in pursuit of him.
- To find him, he announced that a great reward would
be given to whoever could pass a thread in an
intricately spired shell.
- Cocalus knew of Daedalus’ talents and ask him to
solve the puzzle.
- Daedalus bore a small hole at the end of the shell and
tied an ant then closed it.
- He solved the puzzle and Minos demanded Cocalus to
give him Daedalus.
- Cocalus agreed but persuaded Minos to stay for some
entertainment and take a bath.
- Minos agreed and he was consequently murdered by
Cocalus’ daughters.
- Eventually, Daedalus left Camicus and ended up in
Sardinia with a group led by Iolaus.
COMPREHENSION CHECK:
1. Who hired Daedalus?
2. What did Daedalus design to hold the Minotaur?
3. What did Daedalus invent to help him and Icarus
escape from the labyrinth?
4. What did he warn Icarus not to do?
5. What happened to Icarus?
6. Why did Minos ask Daedalus to build the labyrinth?