#Icarus died by no one's hand other than his own - he wasn't tempted he wasn't tried he didn't have some bigger reason for it

[gingermintpepper]

I read this post and nodded my head before pausing because no, actually I don't think I agree with it, mostly because Hyacinthus wasn't 'reduced to be known' by his premature death and Icarus' death is one of the most important part of his tale.

With Hyacinthus, I think in modern times, there's definitely an over-focus on Hyacinthus' death and the tragedy of his fate but historically, Hyacinthus' festival was one of the biggest, elaborate events that was capable of halting wars in order to be observed. Hyakinthia didn't just remember Hyacinthus' death, it remembered his life, his death and his rebirth and thousands upon thousands of people for many many years adored and celebrated him. People travelled long distances just to hear his story and participate in his people's remembrance of him and that's an aspect of his tale that has been thoroughly lost in modern depictions of him. Hyacinthus is only 'reduced' by his death if one thinks his death is the most important part of his tale when it's never been. Hyacinthus' story traditionally has always been about love. Is it frustrating that there isn't more recorded about him considering how prominent he was in his region? Yeah, absolutely it is, but the feelings and traditions those people observed still exist and have been passed down in his stories. It's never been just about death.

Icarus, on the other hand, is a cautionary tale. We remember his death because it's meant to serve as a reminder of what happens when you aren't careful, when you don't take the danger surrounding you seriously, when you covet your own curiousity over listening to the words of those wiser. In this case, it's very difficult to 'reduce' Icarus to his death because his death is kind of the whole point of his story and while modern audiences have laser focused on Hyacinthus' death to the overall detriment of his story and impact, they overspeculate about Icarus when the true figure caught in a tragic situation in this scenario is Daedalus, Icarus's father. Daedalus who endured years of imprisonment in that tower, burdened by the knowledge that his greatest invention is being used for ritual slaughter, Daedalus who raised his son as best as he could and who cherished nothing more than him, Daedalus who must watch helplessly while his son ignores his warnings to fly higher and higher and who cannot even stop to pick up his body unless he too wants to be swallowed by the waves. In trying to humanise the young Icarus we completely ignore the plight of his aged, grieving father.

oh how i love hyacinthus and icarus. two young boys reduced only to be known because of their premature deaths as if that’s the most important part of them