In mythological ancient Greece, Icarus flew above Crete on wings made from wax and feathers, defying the laws of man and nature. To witnesses on the ground, he looked like a god, and he felt like one too. But, in his society, the line that separated god from man was absolute, and the punishment for mortals who attempted to cross it was severe. Amy Adkins explains the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. [Directed by TED-Ed, narrated by Addison Anderson].

Amy Adkins: The myth of Icarus and Daedalus

The myth of Icarus and Daedalus

Daedalus's inventions challenged human limitations, blurring lines between mortals and gods, setting the stage for tragedy.

Icarus's flight, a mix of human ambition and divine aspiration, ends in a cautionary tale of hubris and the cost of excess.

Moderation's key role in success and survival is underscored by Daedalus's regret and Icarus's fatal defiance of natural laws.