ded'a lus, a mythical Greek architect and artisan. He built for the king of Crete the labyrinth in which the Minotaur was confined, but having seriously offended the king, he was himself imprisoned. To effect his escape and that of his son, he made two pairs of wings, which he fastened on their shoulders. The son, Icarus, in flying across the sea, rose so high that the heat of the sun melted the wax with which the wings were fastened together, and he fell into the sea and was drowned. Daedalus escaped unharmed.