| “ | Go back. Go back, warrior. There is no passage here. You will never make it across. You think you can, but you cannot. Do you hear me?! It is my wings that will make it across. It is my test! Do you not know who I am‽ Have you not heard of Icarus? It is my fate to make it across, NONE OTHER! This is my test! The sisters will grant me an audience, not you. You will die, white warrior! You will die! | ” |
–Icarus. | ||
Template:Infobox gods
Greek Mythology
In Greek mythology, Icarus is the son of Daedalus, King Minos' architect, who built the labyrinth for King Minos to imprison the Minotaur. In reality, the father and son were Minos' prisoners, imprisoned in a tower. The clever Daedalus plucked feathers from the birds that landed at the window and, over time, gathered enough to build two pairs of wings for himself and his son, Icarus. The two escaped, but Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun. The prideful Icarus didn't listen. He flew so high, the heat of the sun melted the wax in his wings, and he plunged to his death into the ocean. The loss troubled Daedalus so much that he refused to share the plans for his wings until his death.
God of War II
In the God of War series, Icarus died and fell into the Underworld, where he was driven insane by the torment of his prison and his own prideful failure. Lacking much of his father's talent, Icarus spent decades crudely repairing his wings, eventually grafting them to the flesh of his back, which finally allowed him to escape the Underworld. Unsatisfied, Icarus sought to save himself from his pitiful existence by reaching the Sisters of Fate and preventing his death.
He is found on the Island of Creation in God of War II on a quest to change his fate. When Kratos meets him he crawls from underneath a bridge in the Great Chasm. He appears as an old, filthy looking, insane man.
He tries to get Kratos to stop his quest, rambling on about how he will never make it across the chasm. Annoyed, Kratos tries to push the old man aside as Icarus yells about the futility of his quest stating that only he will fly across to get an audience with the Sisters and change his fate. Icarus states that Kratos will die if he tries to cross but Kratos declares "I will make it to the Sisters of Fate and I will use your wings to do so." Angered, Icarus states the Sister will not allow Kratos, a fallen God reach them, before Icarus wiggles out of the Spartan's grip and pulls the two of them down into the chasm. They fight the whole way through, but Icarus soon suffers a beating at the Spartan's hands and pleads for his life stating he believes the Sisters sent Kratos to help him.
Death
| “ | "Wait perhaps the sisters have sent you to help me! I realize that now!" | ” |
–Icarus begging for his life. | ||
Kratos rips off Icarus' Wings.
His pleas fall on deaf ears, as the battle culminates in Kratos ripping off Icarus' wings to save himself. Icarus then falls into the Underworld again, screaming in utter terror, while Kratos safely lands onto the Titan Atlas.
God of War III
Icarus is briefly mentioned in God of War III. In the Chambers of Daedalus, where he used to make most of his projects, he mentioned Icarus in several notes, saying how he missed his son and wanted him back. Zeus had promised to take Icarus back to Daedalus in return for having him project the Labyrinth for him. In the first notes, he seems happy with the chance of having his son back, but his happiness fades as time passes and Icarus does not return to him, even though he does build the Labyrinth perfectly.
When Kratos arrived at the enchained Daedalus, he presumed that Kratos was his son until he stepped on the light. When Daedalus asked where was Icarus, Kratos told him that he was already dead. Daedalus was distraught hearing the bad news.
After dying in the assembly of the Labyrinth, Daedalus also left a note written in blood, in which he congratulated Kratos for his progress, telling him Zeus should pay for breaking his promise and letting Icarus die. He also says that, after his death, he could finally stay with his son again.
Powers and Abilities
Icarus' Wings
Though lacking most of his father's inventive skills, Icarus was able to create the wings and use them to safely escape the Underworld. The wings appear as ragged, melted, and damaged because they were partially melted by the sun. The base of each wing is stained with blood from being surgically attached to his back. They were ripped off after Kratos defeated Icarus which the man falling to the pits of the Underworld, the very place he created the wings.
Trivia
- Originally, the fight featuring Kratos and Icarus was supposed to be fought on a large rock falling towards the River Styx, but it was changed.
- A statue of Icarus can be seen and used in the Phoenix Chamber. Kratos used it to deflect fire in the Fire Phoenix Room.
- Before you cross the Great Chasm, as you could see from an angle of view from it - you could see Icarus' wings fluttering underneath the gap between the bridge, then disappear once you cross the bridge.
- Daedalus built the Labyrinth, with the intention of not only getting Icarus back but also intend to make his son the ruler of the Laybrinth as the Boreas' Icestorm was meant to be a gift to his son.
- Due to Hades' death in God of War III, Icarus may have escaped the Underworld along with the other lost souls.
