Daedalus Daedalus, and he to Hephaestus, son of Zeus." This suggests that Daedalus was related to Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, and therefore to Zeus himself. Daedalus is first mentioned by Homer as the creator of a wide dancing-ground for Ariadne. He also created the Labyrinth on Crete, in which the Minotaur (part man, part bull) was kept. In the story of the labyrinth as told by the Hellenes, the Athenian hero Theseus is challenged to kill the Minotaur, finding his way with the help of Ariadne's thread. Daedalus' appearance in Homer is in an extended metaphor, "plainly not Homer's invention",
USS Daedalus (ARL-35) USS Daedalus (ARL-35) USS "Daedalus" (ARL-35) was one of 39 "Achelous"-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Daedalus (in Greek mythology, an exiled Athenian who served in the courts of Minos and Kokalos, regarded as representative of artists and artisans of the later Minoan or Mykenaian age; imprisoned by Minos, he made wings to escape), she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. Laid down as "LST-1143" at Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Seneca, Illinois; redesignated landing craft repair ship "ARL-35" 14 August 1944; launched 27 April