Myths and Legends

Myths and Legends

Using Air and Wind

For thousands of years, people have told stories of wondrous beings that moved through the sky with the grace and ease of the birds. The ability to fly was seen as a sign of greatness and power. The gods and the heroes of many myths and legends were set apart from ordinary people because the could fly. In Greek mythology, Icarus and Daedalus flew on wings made of feathers, twine and wax; King Kaj Kaoos of Persia harnessed eagles to his throne, while Count Twardowski of Poland flew to the moon on the back of a rooster.

Many people were inspired by visions of joining their heroes in the sky. They strapped wings to their arms and jumped off towers, high buildings and even out of balloons. Some did survive their dramatic falls. In 1507, Scotsman John Damian leapt from the walls of a castle with wings made of chicken feathers and broke only his thing. He thought he would have been more successful if he had used the feathers of a bird that could really fly.

The modern hero Superman can fly “faster than a speeding bullet”. It seems our desire to believe in flying heroes continues.

A Sky Bird

The Garuda was a giant bird that carried the Indian god Vishnu across the sky. It is also the name of Indonesia's national airline, which uses the mythical bird for its logo.

A Chariot of Wings

Alexander the Great was said to have flown by harnessing six griffins, mythical winged animals, to a basket. He placed meat on his spear and enticed them to fly after it.

A Winged Horse

According to Greek legend, Bellerophon the Valiant, son of the King of Corinth, captured a winged horse called Pegasus. He flew through the clouds to find and defeat in battle the triple-headed monster, Chimera.

Flying God. Photo by Elena.

Reaching for the Sunday

In Greek mythology, Daedalus and his son Icarus used was-and-feather wings to escape from the island of Crete. But Icarus flew too close to the sun and the was on his wings melted. He fell into the Aegean Sea and drowned.

Tower Jumpers

Through the centuries, humans have tried to copy the birds. With elaborate wings made of feathers, they jumped from towers and flapped their arms desperately as the plummeted to to ground. They did not know that humans are too heavy, and their muscles are not strong enough to fly like birds. The hearts of humans cannot pump blood fast enough to meet the demands of wing flapping, which even in a sparrow is 800 heartbeats a minute.

A Touch of Spring

The Egyptian goddess Queen Isis had wings like a falcon. Each year she flew over the Earth and brought spring to the land.

Sky Battle

In many legends, the forces of both good and evil had the power to fly. St. Michel defended islands against deadly dragons.

King Kong, a legend. Photo by Elena.