AboutIrulan Serena Expertise Able to answer any question dealing with Greco-Roman mythology. Experience comes from teaching classical literature in all levels of the school curriculum from middle school to university level for thirty-eight years.
Question What is the name of the creature who was warned not too fly too close to the sun, but whose arrogance prevailed ? It flew too close and burnt its' wings?
Answer Hello Jay,
It was not a creature, it was a human being.
The young man was Icarus son of Daedalus the architect of the Labyrinth where the Minotaur was imprisioned, from the myth of Thesues and the Minotaur.
After the Labyrinth was finished both father and son were imprisioned in a high tower by Aeetes [guardian of the Minotaur] so that the secret of the Labyrinth would remain a secret.
In order to escape Daedlaus made wings for both of them from the feathers of birds who flew over the tower. When the wings were ready and both strapped the wings in readiness to flee Daedlaus warned his son Icarus not to fly too high or the sun would melt the wax. Icarus was also warned not to fly to low near the sea or the humidity would make his wings too heavy to support.
Icarus did not listen to the advice, flew too high, the sun melted the wax and wings desintegrated. Icarus fell to the sea and drowned.
The area where Icarus drowned is still called the Icarian Sea today.
Cordially,
IS
You are welcome, Jay,
anything else I can help you with, feel free to ask. IS
