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The king kept him captive on his island. He gave Daedalus a well equipped workshop

in a high tower. Daedalus lived there with his son Icarus. King Minos made him invent

weapons of war that would make his army and navy very powerful. Daedalus had
everything he needed, but he wanted his freedom to leave the island and return to

his own country. His son, Icarus too wanted to leave because he longed to run and
play in the open rather than remain in a tower all day. The king came to know of this

and so ordered that all the ships should be searched before leaving port to make sure

Daedalus and Icarus were not aboard.

However, the two were determined to leave, and knew that they would soon find a

way out.

One day, as Daedalus watched the birds flying in the sky, an idea struck him. He told

King Minos that he needed some feathers, wax and thread for a new invention he was
working on. Soon these things were sent to his workshop.

Daedalus arranged the feathers like the wings of a bird, fastened What gave Daedalus the

them with thread and then stuck them together with wax. He idea to make wings?
made two pairs of wings with all the feathers he had. When he

attached the wings to his shoulders and began to flap them, he could feel the wind

trying to lift him into the air.
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