Daedalus

In Greek mythology, Daedalus was a famous inventor, sculptor and architect.

He was originally from Athens but became jealous of his nephew and pupil Talos who invented an iron saw after sawing a thin stick with the jawbone of a snake, and the potter's wheel as well. Daedalus threw him down from the Acropolis but his corpse was discovered and Daedalus was condemned to exile. He was welcomed by Minos into his court in Crete where he among other things constructed a wooden cow for Queen Pasiphae and a labyrinth where Minos imprisoned the Minotaur. After Daedalus helped Theseus kill the Minotaur, Minos imprisoned him and his son Icarus inside the labyrinth. Daedalus constructed wings for himself and his son and they flew away from Crete but Icarus flew too high causing the wax in his wings to melt and he fell into the sea. Daedalus managed to reach Camicus in Sicily and was received into the court of King Cocalus.

References

• Apollodorus. The Library.
• Diodorus Siculus. Library of History.