Soar, Icarus Triptych

The story of Icarus is a famous tale from Greek mythology. Icarus was the son of Daedalus, a brilliant inventor and craftsman. Daedalus created a pair of wings for himself and his son, made of feathers and wax, so they could escape from the island of Crete, where they were trapped by King Minos. Before they flew, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high or too low. Flying too high would bring him too close to the sun, and the heat would melt the wax. Flying too low would bring him too close to the sea, and the dampness would weigh down the wings. Excited by the freedom of flight, Icarus ignored his father's warnings. He soared higher and higher into the sky. As he got too close to the sun, the wax on his wings began to melt, and the feathers fell off. Without his wings, Icarus plummeted into the sea and drowned. This story is often seen as a lesson about hubris, or overconfidence, and the dangers of ignoring wise advice.