Daedalus and Icarus

The story of Icarus is popular and well known myth today often referenced in video games and pop culture.  The premise of this myth is that if you fly to close to the sun you are bound to fall meaning to remember your limitations. To talk fully about this myth we also need to include the myth about Daedalus, Icarus's father.

To read the story before continuing you can checkout this link to read. Its page 9 of the site and is the first and second stories

Daedalus and Icarus

If you don't want to read it here are some . . . Recommended Videos!

This video is very informative of the myth and shares a good deal of insight to the story.

On the other hand, this video has a very funny commentary.

Throughout this myth, the Greeks include reasoning behind how certain aspects of their culture came about. Carpentry is believed to have come from the hands of Daedalus while in all likelihood it was probably around long before his time. This myth also tells us of the creation of the mast and sail. For a long time the method of transportation used by the Greeks were boats with oars that were usually operated by slaves. This myth allows us to pinpoint when the sail and mast began to be apart of Greek culture. They accredit  him with these inventions in order to portray him as someone who was close to the gods. This makes Greece seem stronger than it is by creating the illusion that they were the first to create carpentry, they make it seem like they are better than other civilizations and kingdoms. This allows citizens to take pride in themselves. 

By making Daedalus seem like a god among st men the story is able to force the biggest message that every myth portrays in one way or another. The belief that the gods are above all and that trying to be like the gods is wrong. This was a common message in order to keep people united and controlled. When people are told that they would get punished for acting like gods they tend to avoid circumstances that could lead to such punishment. Since times of drought or lack of harvest are believed to come from the gods the people become fearful when nature becomes destructive. They begin to believe that destructive forces of nature are actually caused by the gods and not because its natural. Now in Icarus's story he is killed by gods but nature. This story shows us that these misconceptions are true because we don't see Icarus struck down by the gods.

This also teaches children to respect their fathers. Because Icarus disobeys his fathers teachings, he ends up meeting a terrible fate. Myths are a prime way for elders to teach their children important life lessons. This theme also reoccurs often in Greek Mythology, often a hero is assigned a task by a god and fails to follow the gods warnings and ends up dead. This plays into how Daedalus was godlike having warned his son, but his son still meets a tragic end. Since Daedalus was human he still experiences the emotional turmoil of his sons death showing readers that they can never overcome being a human and will always suffer from pain and sorrow.

Leave any suggestions or thoughts below in the comments. This is my first time creating a blog and I view this as a learning experience, so I don't mind any criticism. Also if you found anything wrong with what I wrote let me know and I correct it. Thanks for viewing my blog!

Guess what myth is next!!!