by Tim Harry

Created on: March 01, 2008

Daedalus was the most skilled of all artisans of ancient Greece. So skilled in fact that he is credited with the invention of images themselves. Daedalus was a master craftsmen, inventor and architect, who's skill is now legendary.

The original stories point to Daedalus being a Cretan character, but as the dominance of Athens grew, so he became an Athenian. The change of nationality does cause some confusion in the timeline of events, though I will tell the stories in Athenian order, though even then there are variations of the story.

The Athenian Daedalus became the son of Metion and therefore the grandson of the ancient king Erechtheus. His mother though is never clearly defined, and at various times Merope and Iphinoe are both named. Daedalus grew up to be a brilliant architect and sculptor, his statues in particular brought him widespread fame. Before Daedalus, statues were sculpted such that their arms were fixed to the sides of the body. Daedalus carved them in more natural poses, and is on occasion credited with providing them with the power of movement.

For a time Daedalus had an apprentice, his nephew Perdix, or Talos depending on the version. From an early age Perdix showed immense skill, inventing the saw and compass. Daedalus feared for his own reputation if the skill of his apprentice passed his own. This jealousy resulted in Daedalus throwing Perdix from the Acropolis. Daedalus was tried for murder by the Areopagus, the ancient Athens court, and as punishment he was banished from the city.

In some versions of the story Perdix did not die, but was saved by the goddess Minerva and turned into the partridge. As a result of his experiences, the partridge will not build a nest in the trees and avoids high places.

Daedalus though was forced to leave Athens, and eventually found employment with King Minos on the island of Crete. One of his first jobs though was for the king's wife Pasiphae. Poseidon had given King Minos a white bull to be used as a sacrifice; Minos though had kept the bull for himself. As an act of vengeance, Poseidon made Pasiphae lust after the Cretan bull. To aid in the mating process Daedalus constructed a hollow wooden cow for Pasiphae.

The result of the mating was the birth of the Minotaur, a creature half-man and half-bull. Minos, not wanting the illegitimate offspring in the palace, ordered Daedalus to build a labyrinth in which to contain the Minotaur. The Labyrinth at Knossos, was the most complex ever built, an infinite number

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