Definition: Daedalus was a grandson of Erectheus of Athens. He was a clever craftsman credited with various inventions. Pliny credits Daedalus with inventing carpentry. After killing his pupil/nephew Talos or Perdix, who invented the saw, because Perdix promised to be at least as talented as his jealous mentor, Daedalus fled to Crete and King Minos. He built a mechanical contraption for Minos' queen Pasiphae so she could be mounted by Minos' prize bull. Later, Daedalus created the labyrinth to house Minos' stepson, the part-bull, part-human Minotaur. Daedalus and his son, Icarus were imprisoned by King Minos, either in a tower or in the labyrinth, and later escaped by means of wings of wax Daedalus crafted.
Ovid's Metamorphoses Book VIII tells the story.
Alternate Spellings: Daidalos
