Icarus, in Greek legend, the son of Daedalus. Daedalus furnished his son with wings and made a pair for himself that they might escape horn Crete. Daedalus taught his son to fly and the two started out hopefully. But Icarus was excited by the novelty of journeying through the air. He flew too high and the sun melted the wax by which his wings were attached to his shoulders. The poor lad fell into the sea and was drowned. The sea was named the Icarian Sea in memory of Icarus.