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Icarus and Daedelus
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Icarus and Daedelus
Icarus and Daedelus. Woodcut by Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), showing the fall of Icarus (centre), watched by his father Daedalus (upper centre). This story, from Greek mythology, tells of the escape of Daedalus and Icarus from Minos, the king of Crete. Daedalus made wings for himself and his son, using bird feathers and wax to bind the feathers together. Despite warnings from his father, Icarus flew too close to the Sun, and the heat melted the wax. The wings fell apart, and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned. The story, which can represent human desire for flight, is seen as a warning against hubris (excessive pride or self-confidence). Artwork from The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Durer (W. Kurth, 1936)
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Media ID 6441785
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1400s 1500s 15th Century 16th Century 1936 Albrecht Durer Ancient Greek Antiquity Aviation Bird Birds Classical Crete Death Durer Elderly Escape Falling Fatal Father Feathers Flight Flying German Greece Greek History Of Science Humans Inventor Legend Lesson Mediterranean Moral Myth Mythology Pride Scientist Story Tale Transport Transportation Wings Wood Cut Young Daedalus Fable Foolish Hubris Icarus Minos
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This woodcut by Albrecht Durer depicts the tragic tale of Icarus and Daedalus from Greek mythology. In the center of the print, we witness Icarus falling from the sky, his wings disintegrating as he plummets towards the sea below. Above him stands his father, Daedalus, watching in anguish at his son's fatal descent. The story behind this artwork is a cautionary one - a warning against excessive pride and self-confidence. Daedalus, an ingenious inventor, crafted wings for himself and Icarus using bird feathers bound together with wax. However, despite his father's warnings to fly neither too low nor too high, Icarus succumbed to hubris and flew too close to the Sun. The intense heat melted the wax holding his wings together, leading to their catastrophic failure. This ancient fable not only represents humanity's desire for flight but also serves as a reminder of our limitations and the consequences of foolish actions driven by arrogance. Through Durer's intricate woodcut technique and attention to detail, this 16th-century illustration brings this timeless myth back to life. As we gaze upon this historical masterpiece filled with classical symbolism and mythical elements such as Minos (the king of Crete), it reminds us that even in our pursuit of technological advancements today, there are valuable lessons embedded within ancient tales like these – reminding us to tread carefully when reaching for new heights.
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