Daedalus
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Daedalus. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
ded'a-lus, in Greek legend, an Athenian artisan and mechanician. He was credited with the execution of many notable works, temples, altars, etc. The Greeks claimed that he invented carpentry and many tools, such as the saw, axe, and gimlet. Daedalus was also a famous sculptor. He made a statue of Heracles so lifelike that it had to be tied to keep it from running away. He was regarded as the personification of art and handicrafts, and was worshiped by artists' guilds in various places. His nephew, Talos, showed some skill as an inventor. Daedalus became jealous of his talent and murdered him. For this deed he was driven to Crete. Here he built the famous labyrinth for King Minos. Later he lost the favor of Minos and was confined in a tower. He succeeded in escaping from confinement, but could not leave the island as the king had every vessel searched. "Minos may control land and sea, but not the air," said Daedalus. He then constructed a pair of wings for himself, and, finding he could use them successfully, made another pair for his son Icarus. When they had practiced flying enough to feel safe, they started over the sea. Daedalus crossed safely; but Icarus, exulting as he felt himself borne aloft by his wings, flew too high. The heat of the sun melted the wax which held the wings in place, and poor Icarus fell into the sea and was drowned. Daedalus reached Sicily in safety, where he was protected from the anger of Minos, and erected many famous works. See Ariadne ; Labyrinth ; Minos
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
An Athenian, who was the most ingenious artist of his age; he was the inventor of the wedge and many other mechanical instruments. He made a famous labyrinth for Minos , king of Crete , but afterward, incurring the displeasure of Minos, he ordered him to be confined in the labyrinth. Here he made himself wings with feathers and wax, and fitted them to his body, adopting the same course with his son Icarus , who was the companion of his confinement. They mounted into the air, but the heat of the sun melted the wax on the wings of Icarus, and he fell into the ocean, which after him has been called the Icarian Sea. The father alighted safely at Cumae, where he built a temple to Apollo .