Daedalus and Icarus

In Greek mythology, two famous craftsmen and inventors were Daedalus and his nephew Perdix (also known as Talos). Perdix invented the saw after seeing a fish's spine. His uncle Daedalus was so jealous he tried to murder him, but Athena turned him into a partridge to save his life. In some versions of the myth, Perdix is killed by Daedalus who was then exiled to the Court of King Minos, where he built the famous Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur.

'The Flight of Icarus' - Jacob Peter Gowy

He later created two sets of wings from wax and feathers for himself and his son Icarus to escape. Daedalus warned Icarus not to be complacent and fly too low, but he also warns him of the danger of hubris and the importance of not flying too high. Tragically Icarus did not heed his father's advice. He flew too close to the sun whereupon the heat melted the wax holding his wings in place and he fell to his death. Daedalus was credited with inventing carpentry and became a symbol of craftsmanship.

 

Minerva Verandert Perdix in een Vogel - Crispijn van de Passe