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Wall Street Journal

The Dinos Painter's ‘Calyx Krater With the Death of Aktaion': Feat of Clay

While standing mid-ascent on Mount Zas, the highest summit in the Greek Cyclades, a trail guide advised me and my family to peer out across the vast Aegean Sea. Through the salty haze, a small island emerged. 'That is called Icaria,' she said. 'Where Icarus flew too close to the sun.' In my mind's eye I saw the surface of the still sea ripple, opening to swallow the flailing body of the boy with the faulty feathered wings. Icarus' fatal fall, fueled by arrogance and unnatural ambition, stayed with me every step on our way to the top.