Category: By Tracey Eve Winton
Some details from researching at the Perseus Project at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/

Pausanius, in his Description of Greece, 1.27.1, writes: "In the temple of Athena Polias (Of the City) is a wooden Hermes, said to have been dedicated by Cecrops, but not visible because of myrtle boughs. The votive offerings worth noting are, of the old ones, a folding chair made by Daedalus, Persians spoils, namely the breastplate of Masistius, who commanded the cavalry at Plataea, and a scimitar said to have belonged to Mardonius."

Ikaria or Nikaria, in Greece, one of the Sporades, derives its name from Icarus's [alternate spelling Ikaros] fall after his fatal flight. According to Pausanius 9.11.4-5 his tomb was on the island. However, Pausanius tells a different story of the death:

 

2 comments so far.

  1. Tracey Eve Winton May 22, 2008 at 3:42 PM
    Here is a sanctuary of Heracles. The image, of white marble, is called Champion, and the Thebans Xenocritus and Eubius were the artists. But the ancient wooden image is thought by the Thebans to be by Daedalus, and the same opinion occurred to me. It was dedicated, they say, by Daedalus himself, as a thank-offering for a benefit. For when he was fleeing from Crete in small vessels which he had made for himself and his son Icarus, he devised for the ships sails, an invention as yet unknown to the men of those times, so as to take advantage of a favorable wind and outsail the oared fleet of Minos. Daedalus himself was saved, but the ship of Icarus is said to have overturned, as he was a clumsy helmsman. The drowned man was carried ashore by the current to the island, then without a name, that lies off Samos. Heracles came across the body and recognized it, giving it burial where even to-day a small mound still stands to Icarus on a promontory jutting out into the Aegean. After this Icarus are named both the island and the sea around it.
  2. Tracey Eve Winton May 22, 2008 at 3:52 PM
    Perseus is a great site to find out anything about Greek and Roman literature but much of the Greek literature in English translation renders Daedalus as "Daidalos" so you might have to search that name also. Icarus appears as "Ikaros".

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