Daedalus who once, in great jealousy, killed his nephew by pushing him out a window and calling it an accident, loses his son by falling, by an accident.
Athena saved the nephew by turning him into a bird. She does not save Icarus.
We think of Icarus as a boy who died for flying too high, but in many ways he was a boy who died because of his father. His father was the reason they had to flee. His father granted a child flight and expected him not to fly.
What kind of father does not anticipate his son's excitement and delight? What kind of father builds a test of obedience (even unintentionally) in which the cost of disobedience is death?
They say Daedalus wept. He wept and dragged his wings to Cumae and built a temple to Apollo. He hung those wings in that temple and vowed to never fly again.
Apollo is, in many ways, a god of justice. He drives off evil and offers support to the innocent and helpless. Music and song and prophecy, yes, but he also protects the flock and herd. He loves the creation of cities. [src]
Of course he would reach for Icarus.
(And, if Apollo and Helios are the same (as some claim; same source), then Phaethon is also his son. Phaethon who Helios let take the chariot despite his misgivings. Phaethon who was murdered by Zeus for his inexperience.
Icarus, another boy dying for his father's folly, for a father entrusting something too dangerous to someone without experience.
Of course he would reach for Icarus.)
Later, Iapyx, Icarus' brother, will become a favorite of Apollo. Apollo is said to love him deeply, gifting him with prophecy, music, and healing. So gifted, Iapyx chooses to be a healer.
But I wonder, in this world in which Apollo reached, what came first? The gifts or the love? Did Apollo give such a bounty of gifts to Iapyx (when even his sons usually only had one or two) because he loved him? Or did he give the gifts first as an almost apology to Icarus? Or even in recognition of the temple Daedalus built and tears he wept?
With the gift of music, Iapyx might sing himself into favor with a future ruler. He'd never be trapped like Icarus had been.
With the gift of healing, Iapyx might keep himself alive if hurt.
With the gift of prophecy, Iapyx might never end up somewhere no one could reach to stop him from falling.
Did Apollo watch over Iapyx, protecting Icarus' brother as apology or penance, and fall for him that way? Did the love come later?
jacobvanloon
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