Daedalus (ded' ul us) was the most famous engineer and architect in all the world. The buildings he designed were praised for their great beauty and originality. Wealthy men and powerful kings begged him to work for them. A palace built by Daedalus was sure to bring fame to its owner!

King Minos of Crete was, therefore, most pleased when Daedalus agreed to work for him. His mind was filled with plans. With Daedalus's help, Crete would soon be the envy of all other kings.

Daedalus did not disappoint Minos. He soon built the famous labyrinth, a huge maze of criss-crossing paths from which it was impossible for any one to find the way out. Minos was happy. The labyrinth was better than anything he could have imagined. He was greedy to see what Daedalus would build for him next.

But Daedalus had other ideas. He wanted to be free to roam the world. He needed to discover new things, talk with people, and exchange ideas. He did not want to be a rich, king's favorite toy! Daedalus told Minos that he was going to leave Crete. Minos was furious. "If you will not work for me, then you will work for no one!" Minos ordered his guards to take Daedalus and his son Icarus (ik' u rus) to a nearby island. There was no way they could escape. They were prisoners.

Day after long day, Daedalus sat on the beach watching sea gulls fly. He wondered how he would ever get off the island. He was getting discouraged when an idea came to him. It was daring, but it just might work! "Icarus," he called to his son. "Gather all the feathers you can find and bring them to me."

Using all of his skills as an engineer, Daedalus built two wooden frames shaped like birds' wings. When they were finished, he glued feathers over every part of them. 'See, my son? We will fly off this island like free birds. Minos does not control the skies!"

Daedalus put his wings on. He felt himself lifted gently into the breeze. The wings worked! He returned to the ground and put the other set of wings on his son. "Be careful, Icarus," he warned. " Do not fly too low. If the wings touch the water they will pull you down . Do not fly too high. The sun might burn the feathers. Follow me and you will be safe." They climbed to a cliff and waited for the wind. Daedalus turned to his son and said, "Now lets take off!"

As soon as he felt himself flying, Icarus forgot his father's warnings. "This must be what it is like to be a god," he thought. In sheer joy he flew higher and higher. Before he realized what was happening, the heat of the sun began to melt the glue that held the feathers to the frame. One by one the feathers drifted to the sea. Icarus felt himself falling. "Father, save me!" he cried.

But by the time Daedalus could turn around, there was nothing he could do. A few feathers floated on the sea. Icarus had disappeared.

Write what these sentences from the story mean.

1. The buildings he designed were praised for their great beauty and originality.



2. With Daedalus's help, Crete would soon be the envy of all control the skies!"



3. Daedalus did not want to be a rich king's favorite toy!



4. What were some of Minos's reasons for wanting to keep Daedalus on Crete?



5. Why was it so important to Daedalus to be free?



6. Do you think that Daedalus paid too high a price for his freedom? Why?



7. Look up freedom in the dictionary. Write the definition. Then tell what freedom means to you. In what ways are you free? In what ways aren't you free?



8. What made Icarus forget his father's warning? How do you think he felt when he was lifted into the sky?