There's a Greek myth everyone knows, even those who have never opened a mythology book. It's the story of a boy, a pair of wings, and an unforgiving sun. It's the story of Icarus.
Who was Icarus?
Icarus was the son of Daedalus, the greatest inventor and architect of ancient Greece. Daedalus was so skilled that King Minos of Crete hired him to build the Labyrinth — that impossible prison from which no one could escape (and which housed a certain Minotaur we've already discussed).
The problem? Minos didn't want Daedalus to leave. You don't let a genius like that get away. So father and son found themselves prisoners on the island of Crete, without ships and without a way to escape.
Daedalus's Mad Plan
Daedalus, being a good inventor, did not give up. If they couldn't escape by sea, they would escape by air. He gathered bird feathers, assembled them with beeswax, and built two pairs of wings — one for himself, one for Icarus.
Before flying, Daedalus gave his son a clear warning: "Do not fly too low, or the dampness of the sea will weigh down your wings. Do not fly too high, or the heat of the sun will melt the wax."
Icarus nodded. He understood. And then he forgot everything.
The Flight
At first, it went well. Father and son flew together, free for the first time. But Icarus felt something he had never felt before: the exhilaration of flight. The wind beneath his wings, the open sky, the feeling of being invincible.
He climbed. Higher. And higher.
The sun was there, close, beautiful. The wax began to melt. The feathers detached. And Icarus, before he even understood what was happening, fell into the sea that today bears his name — the Icarian Sea.
What Does Icarus Teach Us Today?
For centuries, Icarus has been used as a symbol of hubris — arrogance, the defiance of one's limits that leads to punishment. "Don't be like Icarus" has become a way of saying: stay in your place, don't dare too much.
But there's another interpretation. Icarus was young, free, and for a moment he truly flew. He chose the sky instead of caution. He chose to live big, even if only for a short time.
Perhaps the real mistake was not flying too high. Perhaps it was forgetting his father's words.
Or perhaps — and this is the version we prefer — Aim High is never wrong. You just have to remember to bring sunscreen.
Angy Shop celebrates Icarus with the "Aim High" t-shirt — for those who believe it's always worth trying to fly a little higher.