Description
The Vision and the Thorn
2 CORINTHIANS 12.1-10
Daedalus was a legendary Greek sculptor and craftsman, famous throughout the ancient world for his many clever inventions. It’s probable that he really did exist, though many of the stories about him and his work are clearly made up after his time. Some said that the statues he carved could move all by themselves. But the thing for which he’s most famous is flying.
Daedalus had gone to Crete, where he worked for the equally famous king Minos, and built for him the great labyrinth which comes into other ancient stories. But when he wanted to leave the island again, Minos wouldn’t let him; so he applied his inventor’s brain to the problem, and figured out a way to fly. He made wings out of birds’ feathers, and attached them to his arms and shoulders with wax. He did the same for his son, Icarus. Off they flew, and were heading back to mainland Greece; but Icarus became too excited by this new form of travel, and wanted to fly, not onwards to their destination, but upwards towards the sun. Daedalus did his best to warn him that this would be dangerous, but the headstrong Icarus didn’t listen. Then, sure enough, as he got closer to the sun, the heat began to melt the wax holding his wings in place. Off came the feathers, and Icarus fell into the sea and was drowned..