Daedalus

Daedalus had a huge workshop in Athens where he created his amazing works. But when he discovered that his nephew Talos had an even bigger workshop, he overthrew him from the Acropolis of Athens. For this act he was sentenced to death, but with the help of the gods he escaped with his son Icarus to Crete. He constructed a giant labyrinth for the Cretan king Mínó, where the king then hid the Minotaur (a monster with a human body and the head of a bull).

After completing the labyrinth, Daedalus wanted to leave Crete. However, the Cretan king, fearing that Daedalus would give away the secret of the labyrinth, prevented him from his intention (with the help of his fleet). And so Daedalus was left with no choice but to travel by air. To do this, he constructed two pairs of wings from bird feathers, which he joined together with wax, and together with his son they flew up to the clouds. But despite his father's warning, Íkaros longed to fly even higher. After getting too close to the sun, the wax melted and Íkaros crashed into the sea, where he died.

Sad and alone, Daedalus sought another asylum. He could not go to Athens because of the threat of the death penalty, so he landed in Sicily. Here he asked for asylum from King Kókalos, who accepted him and had him build a beautiful palace with many statues and paintings.

However, King Minos learned of Daedalus and arrived in Sicily with his war fleet and demanded Daedalus' extradition. Kókalos did not refuse, but neither did he accept, saying that Daedalus should decide for himself. The latter brought a secret pipe into the bathroom of King Minos and with its help let boiling water on the king while he was showering, thus killing him. As soon as this deed was known in Athens, Daedalus was pardoned, for he had rid Athens of their arch-enemy. He was thus able to return to Athens, where he eventually died.