Icarus (Latin), from Ιkaros (Ικαρος, Greek), Vicare (Etruscan) was the man who flew too close to the sun and fell from heaven (from Old English hoefan "sky, firmament," came to mean "home of God"). In Greek "sky, heaven" is ouranus ούρανός , personified as Father Sky, Ouranus or Uranus in English. Falling from the heavens is more than a fall from the sky, it is a fall from grace.
Daedalus (meaning, "cleaver worker"), made wings out of feathers and wax (keros κηρός Greek) for him and his son, Icarus, to escape from the imprisonment imposed by King Minos.
In modern Greek ftero φτερό (s.) is "feather, wing," and ftera φτερά (pl.) "feathers, wings," pteryx πτέρυξ "wing." From ancient Greek pteron /pterux [pteryx] "feather, wing," this seems to be in the sense of a feather or wing being a "flyer." Pteron is from the verb petomai πέτομαι "to fly" and the root *pet- "to rush, fly." So we might say, the wings Daedalus made were themselves made out of "wings", or feathers, as are the wings of birds. An airplane wing is just a single "wing" in the shape of a bird's flight feather(pinion). Or, we could say that an airplane has a right and left "feather" or flyers, or a pair of wings.
Feather in English comes from Old English feðer [fether] "a feather; a pen" in plural feðra "wings," from the same root as the Greek, i.e., *pet- "to fly, rush." The English word wing is from,
late 12c., wenge, "forelimb fitted for flight of a bird or bat," also the part of some insects resembling a wing in form or function, from Old Norse vængr "wing of a bird, aisle, etc[OE].
and this [wenge] replaced the Old English feðra [fethra] "wings (feathers)."
Wenge is said to be of unknown origin, "perhaps from Proto-Germanic *we-ingjaz, suffixed form of PIE root *we- 'blow' [OE]." In that case a wing would be a thing blowing(we-ing), rather than a feðer a "flyer." The word feather, seems to come from the sense of something either shaped for flying, and/or a component, like what bird wings are made out of, whereas wing isn't from the sense of individual feathers, but rather the sense of some sort of appendage that is used for flight. It's a little confusing in English that the singular "wing" replaced the plural feðra "feathers." We don't normally describe a bird as flying with its feathers, we say it flies with its wings; wings which just happen to be made out of feathers. Whereas in certain other languages, like Greek, the connection between feathers and wings is retained. The English feðer "feather" / wenge "wing" combination seems to mirror the Old Norse(from whence we get the word "wing"). In Old Norse fjoðr is "feather," fiðri "feathers," and vængr "wing."
The connection between wings, feathers and flying is actually visually implicit in ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic writing and iconography. The hieroglyph of a feathered bird wing could be used to represent both djnach "wing," and pA "fly."
It is also interesting to note that pet, pt [pe Coptic] in ancient Egyptian had the meaning "sky, heaven." And the self created Father god who was the personified primordial mound and was named Ptah. His symbolism had to do with both things in the pet "sky," such as the things used for flying (*pet-), such as feathers and wings, as well as the primordial mound / first land, or we could say rock, petra πέτρα "stone, rock" in Greek. Ptah was at certain time depicted wearing either a feathered or winged tunic. He was a feathered Father or Pater [Latin]. Therefore, in Ptah we retain a connection for both the word elements in English, which are taken from Greek, ptero-, as in pteranadon, and the petri- in petrous and petrify.
Ptah Shown with Rocklike Head and Feathered(Wing) Tunic, Tomb of Tutankamun, Guilded wood, faience and glass., 1321-1343 BC, 18th Dynasty, Valley of the Kings
The etymology of the name Icarus is unknown. Some sources say that the name Ikaros might come from the Greek word meaning "follower". This doesn't make a lot of sense if you consider how he did NOT follow his father or his father's instructions. However, it might make sense if you think about sunflowers, Helianthus annus. They are followers of the sun. There is, in fact, a yellow variety of sunflower named 'Icarus'.
So, maybe Icarus was a follower like a flower and not a follower, as in, someone who does what he is told. The sunflower (sunfollower) seems to follow the sun out of a love for the warmth and sunlight that the sun radiates. Followers can be thought of as subservient and subordinate, or imitators without their own ideas. Or, a follower may be an adherent to certain teachings, or a way of being, and may be, even, a free spirit, like you might expect a follower of the Sun to be; someone who desires to be powerful and free, like the Sun.
We can say Ikaros fell from heaven when he followed the sun too closely and the keros (wax) melted from his wings. He fell into the sea and there he sleeps with the ikthys (ιχθύς "fish").
Icarus got carried away by the thrill and freedom he experienced when he was able to fly with wings for the first time. He must have felt powerful and invincible, like a god . . . or a son of a god.
Phaeton actually was a son of a god. He was the son of Helios.
Phaeton or Helios/Sol/Sun driving the chariot of the Sun, c. 435 B.C.
In this passage from Isaiah we see the fallen shining one, like Phaeton.
How you are fallen (nephal Hebrew) from heaven, O Day Star (Lucifer in Vulgate "light bringer," helel in Hebrew "shining one"), son of Dawn! How you are cut to the ground, you who laid the nations low! Isaiah 14:12
Phaeton Φαέθων means "shining" from Ancient Greek phainó φαίνω "shine, shed light, appear." He fell from the sky when he daringly attempt to fly his father's (the Sun, Helios Ηλιος) chariot, across the sky and Zeus struck him down because he was scorching the earth.
Here Phaeton lies who in the sun-god's chariot fared. And though he greatly failed, more greatly he dared. epitaph on Phaeton's tomb, Ovid, (Metamorphoses 2.325)
Phaeton is also the name given to a son of Dawn, the goddess Eos in Greek, Aurora Latin.
It is an interesting comparison, then, that Jesus, the Son of God, the light of the world John 8:12, who also calls himself the "bright morning star" Rev. 22:16 says,
"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!" Luke 12:49
Phaeton tried to prove that he was the son of Helios, but could not control the chariot of the sun and almost scorched the earth, and here Jesus speaks about wanting to do the very thing! However it is a spiritual, not a literal fire. It is baptism, Greek baptizein "to immerse", immersion in the Holy Spirit.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I . . . he will will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Matthew 3:11
And, Jesus, like the sun at the solstice, also suffered a fall or death, but rose again after three days, proving himself to be the Son of God. So a fall or death is not always a sign of failure. Just as the grain falls to the ground and "dies," but is reborn.
"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24
There is something to be said for one who dares to do the impossible. And what is more daring and impossible than believing that you are the son of God, and that because of this you can conquer death? Absurd!
In Genesis we see the Nephilim are called the offspring of the "sons (bene) of God (Elohim)", they were the "mighty men of renown." Their name, Nephillim, is sometimes translated as "giants".
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God (bene Elohim) came in to the daughters of men (ha'adam), and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men (gibbor) that were of old, the men of renown. Genesis 6:4
Some people connect the name Nephillim to the verb nephal "fall," but there is not agreement upon the etymology or its possible meaning. It is true that these so called "giants" are born, and birthing is sometimes called falling or dropping (thus the term "baby catching"), so these giants did "fall" nephal into this world, even though they are offspring of the so called "sons of God," which seems to be contrasted with the daughters of "the Adam" (i.e., mankind, the people God created out of the earth). We could say they "fall," in that they are brought down to, and even made out of, the earth/ground (adamah) by way of their mothers.
Just because someone is a "giant" or "mighty" does not make him invincible, such as we see with Goliath. Nor even, if one is a king anointed by God, or a son of that king, such as Saul and Jonathan, or any of his army, are they immune to death. In this passage, they are called "the mighty fallen" gibbor nephal.
How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. 2 Samuel 1:25
It takes more than the half-blood of a "son of God" (like the Nephillim) to make a man immortal. Maybe that is indeed the difference. A son of the adam is filled with adom "red" blood (dam Hebrew) and is mortal, but in the veins of the gods and immortals runs golden ichor.
Maybe golden, like the golden color of the oil from fish, ichthys, that, in past times, was used to light lamps.
Ichor colored Fish Oil
If Icarus had had ichor in his veins instead of blood, he would not have perished in the sea. Instead, he was mortal and was able to be wounded.
However, we could say, even though he was not immortal and didn't have ichor for blood, he could have "bled ichor." Ichor is an antiquated term used to refer to the smelly, yellowy, watery discharge from a wound. Fish oil, which is the color of ichor, doesn't smell that great either. I don't know how the ichor of the gods was supposed to smell. I wouldn't think that it would have a bad smell, however, it was said to be deadly toxic to mortals.
If Icarus had had ichor in his veins instead of blood, he would not have perished in the sea. Instead, he was mortal and was able to be wounded.
However, we could say, even though he was not immortal and didn't have ichor for blood, he could have "bled ichor." Ichor is an antiquated term used to refer to the smelly, yellowy, watery discharge from a wound. Fish oil, which is the color of ichor, doesn't smell that great either. I don't know how the ichor of the gods was supposed to smell. I wouldn't think that it would have a bad smell, however, it was said to be deadly toxic to mortals.
Icarus, a.k.a., Vicare to the Etruscans, was no vicar, or substitute for a god, even though he had wings and could fly. We might say as much for many so called vicars of the churches as well. They have their vestments as signs of their spiritual authority, like Icarus donned his wings. However, it is what you do with your power and ability gained through your position that matters. If it is not used well the wings are bound to come off and you will come falling to earth.
"Fallen, fallen is Babylon (Greek rendering of Babel)Yes, the mighty can fall.
the Great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul and hateful bird . . . Alas! alas! you great city, you mighty[ischuros ίσχυρός] city, Babylon! In one hour your judgement has come." Revelation 18:2,10
Icharus was not ischuros[strong, mighty] enough and he fell to his death.
However, sometimes, the fall is not the end of the story, but rather, the beginning as with Adam and Eve, or our beginning, being born into the world. To be born into the world as a mortal is a certain fall from grace. However, when we fall we have the chance to rise, with glory proportioned to the size. What happens when one finds himself/herself fallen, into a world of death? The only way out of it is to become like God. And so this is God's desire for us.
"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them in your name, and I will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:20-26So, as we step into this new year, after having just made it through a fall [autumn], as we begin to rise toward the light and the heat of the summer sun. Let us remember our mortality, and how it gives us experience as we turn upon the wheel of the year, but let us also remember we are the children of God and we will always rise after the fall. And we are truly one with God and with each other!
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