The story of Icarus and his ill-fated flight too close to the sun is one of the most well-known Greek myths. Icarus was the son of the master craftsman Daedalus. They were imprisoned on the island of Crete by King Minos. To escape, Daedalus fashioned two pairs of wings made of feathers and wax for himself and his son. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or the sea, but Icarus became overconfident and flew too high. The sun melted the wax holding his wings together, and he plunged to his death in the sea. But what exactly were Icarus’ tragic wings made of?
Feathers
The main structure of Icarus’ wings was crafted from feathers. But what kind of feathers did Daedalus use? Large bird feathers would have been the obvious choice. Birds like eagles, hawks, and vultures have huge wingspans and strong wing feathers perfect for grasping airflow. Specific large feathers Daedalus may have used include:
- Primary flight feathers – The long, stiff feathers attached to the hand and arm bones of the wing. They provide lift and thrust.
- Secondary flight feathers – Shorter, more flexible feathers attached to the forearm bones. They provide lift and stability.
- Alula feathers – Small feathers attached to the bird’s thumb. They provide drag and help slow landing.
Gathering enough large feathers would have been difficult. Creamy white griffon vulture feathers would have matched the wax nicely. But vultures were rare on Crete. More likely, Daedalus collected long brown eagle and hawk wing feathers. Overlapping them mimicked the aerodynamic shape of a real wing.
Other Feather Options
While large bird wing feathers seem the most plausible, Daedalus may have supplemented them with other feather types:
- Body contour feathers – Softer, fluffy feathers from the breast and belly.
- Semiplume feathers – Downy feathers found beneath the contour feathers.
- Down feathers – The soft, fuzzy feathers closest to the skin.
These smaller feathers layered between the primary and secondary flight feathers may have increased lift. Their fluffiness could have also cushioned Icarus’ skin from the stiff ends of larger feathers. Adding feather tufts along the wings’ leading edges likely smoothed airflow as well.
Wax
The other crucial component of Icarus’ wings was the wax joining the feathers together into a cohesive unit. Beeswax would have been the best option as it melts at a relatively low temperature. Pure beeswax has a melting point of around 145°F (63°C). Combined with the sun beating down as Icarus flew higher, the wax holding his feathers together softened and came loose.
But beeswax was likely hard to come by in large quantities. Daedalus may have harvested beeswax from beehives around Crete. But he probably supplemented it with other types of wax like:
- Animal fat – Melted and strained fat from animals like cows, sheep, and pigs.
- Plant oils – Extracted and boiled down into a wax from olives, bayberries, or palm trees.
- Shellac wax – A resinous bug secretion that produces a hard wax.
Mixing the beeswax with harder waxes raised the melting temperature slightly. Animal and plant-based waxes still melt at relatively low temperatures, usually within a few degrees of beeswax. The addition of shellac wax likely helped adhere the feathers together in a durable matrix.
Wax Waterproofing Properties
The wax also provided water resistance while still allowing flexibility. As Icarus began his escape flight, his wings needed to withstand moisture from fog and clouds. A pure beeswax coating repelled water well. But the plant oils mixed in attracted more water droplets. Animal fats provided middling water resistance. The wax blend kept the wings mostly dry until the sun’s heat melted Icarus’ fate.
Frame
For added support, Daedalus built a rigid framework inside each wing reminiscent of an airplane wing. Many materials could have been used for the structural spars and ribs:
- Wood – Branches and saplings formed a sturdy but flexible skeleton.
- Reeds – Tied bundles of dry reeds or bamboo provided strength.
- Bone – Animal bones, ideally from large birds, offered resilience.
- Metal – If available, copper strips could have reinforced key stress points.
Wood was likely the main material for the wing frame. The bars and struts gave shape while allowing the feathers some freedom of movement. A system of cloth or leather cords probably laced the feathers to the wood supports. Flax or hemp woven into a coarse fabric supplied tie-down cords.
Frame Construction
Building the wing frames was an engineering feat for Daedalus. They needed to be large enough to lift Icarus aloft, but light enough for him to flap repeatedly. Swept-back spars that angled feathers for minimum drag show Daedalus understood aerodynamic principles long before recorded science. Smooth joints and notches displayed masterful craftsmanship. Lashing, tying, and wrapping all the components together took great skill.
Other Wing Elements
In addition to the main feather, wax, and frame components, Daedalus included several other wing features:
- Leather skin – Panels of stitched leather or linen between feathers helped contain the wax.
- Handholds – Woven hand loops gave Icarus a firm grip on the wings.
- Straps – Leather belts and ties secured the wings at shoulders, waist, and feet.
- Pipes – Hollow reeds placed within the wings whistled with the wind, warning Icarus if he flew too high.
These additional parts integrated form and function. The leather skin supported the melted wax. Handholds allowed better control. Straps distributed the wing load across Icarus’ body. And the reed pipes provided ingenious altitude detection to keep Icarus safe, though he ignored their warning.
Conclusion
Modern aeronautics owe much to Daedalus’ innovative wing design. Built solely from natural materials available on Crete, the wings performed remarkably well. If Icarus had heeded his father’s warnings about flying too high, he may have made it safely to Sicily with his feathers and wax intact. Daedalus recognized his son’s tragic flaw and built in whistle-pipe sensors. But impulsive Icarus chose to ignore them to his peril. He saw lethal failure, not the wings themselves, as his undoing. Daedalus’ wax and feathers formed wings as lofty as Icarus’ ambitions.