In Greek mythology, Icarus is the son of Daedalus, a master craftsman and inventor. Daedalus was famed for constructing the Labyrinth on Crete. King Minos imprisoned Icarus and Daedalus, after Daedalus helped Theseus escape from the Labyrinth. To escape their imprisonment, Daedalus crafted wings from feathers and wax for himself and Icarus. He warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or the wax would melt.
Overcome with the thrill of flight, Icarus ignored his father's warning and flew too high. The sun melted the wax, his wings disintegrated, and he fell into the sea and drowned. The sea where he fell is called the Icarian Sea, and a nearby island is named Icaria in his memory. The myth of Icarus is a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris, overambition, recklessness, and ignoring wise counsel. The "Icarus complex" in psychology describes those with a desire for glory and a fear of failure.
