Boat floating, clear turquoise water, coral reef

Boat floating, clear turquoise water, coral reef

© Abstract Aerial Art/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Flight or float

We're sailing the cerulean seas surrounding Crete, the largest island in Greece. Home to the ancient Minoans, it's well known as the supposed site of Icarus' ill-fated flight. In the popular version of the tragic tale, Icarus perishes after flying too close to the sun on waxen wings, which melt to send him plummeting to the water. In some tellings, though, he and his father Daedalus depart Crete by boat. (Of course, the ever-unfortunate Icarus still meets his doom by falling overboard. Wear your life jackets, folks!)

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