Il mito narra che Dedalo e suo figlio Icaro per fuggire dal labirinto costruito dallo stesso Dedalo in cui erano stati rinchiusi da Minosse dopo che Teseo ne era uscito, avevano realizzato ali di piume e cera per volare via da Creta. Ma Icaro si avvicinò troppo al sole, la cera si sciolse, e il giovane precipitò nel mare.

According to Peters,

“Three small landscapes featuring Perseus and Andromeda, Heracles and Hesione and Daedalus and Icarus, have probably come from the surroundings of the Herculaneum Gate. (See Fiorelli, PAH, 1, 1, 154).

The exact place of origin is not known, but the similarity in size, colours and further rendering, make it seem probable that they have formed part of the decoration of the same room.

The paintings are all somewhat eroded, but have been fairly well preserved.

The reproductions of the Pitture di Ercolano are reliable as far as the broad outlines are concerned, but not with respect to the execution of the various landscape elements. The chief colours of all three paintings are shades of grey, blue and green…

Both the size and composition of “Perseus and Andromeda” make it seem likely that the original site of this picture was on the main wall.”

See W. J. T. Peters (1963): Landscape in Romano-Campanian Mural Paintings. The Netherlands, Van Gorcum & Comp. (p. 129—131).

See C. M. Dawson (1944): Romano-Campanian Mythological Landscape Painting. Yale Univ. Press, Yale Classical Studies, vol. IX. (p. 107—108).

With regard to the above list from Peters, Allroggen-Bedel says that the Freeing of Hesione (9445, 28th January 1764) and Daedalus and Icarus (9506, 4th February 1764), both came from Herculaneum and were both from a blue wall.”