Ikaros

This article is about eagle companion of Kassandra. For other uses, see Ikaros.

Ikaros was a male golden eagle who served as a companion to the Spartan misthios Kassandra during the 5th century BCE.

Biography

Ikaros was the oldest and dearest friend of Pythagoras, who sent Ikaros watch over his daughter Kassandra. In 451 BCE, after the girl was cast down from the top of Mount Taygetos by her adopted father Nikolaos, Ikaros was found by Kassandra. The eagle remained by her side as she fled from Sparta and ended up on Kephallonia.

Forming a close bond, Ikaros often operated alongside Kassandra during her career as a famed misthios to the extent that her epithet was "the Eagle Bearer". Due to their connection, many considered Ikaros to be the "eagle of Zeus", as eagles were the sacred animals of the Greek god.

When Kassandra decided to leave Greece in 420 BCE to fulfill her duty as the Keeper of the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus, Ikaros accompanied her on her new journey until his eventual death from natural causes. When Kassandra met Layla Hassan at the Gateway to the Lost City in 2018, she mentioned that Ikaros had long since passed away.

Skills

Ikaros swooping down on an ibex

Ikaros' reconnaissance ability was of great help to Kassandra during her travels. In addition to this, Ikaros helped her also by attacking those who had targeted her, and by distracting Kassandra's human enemies at her bidding. He gave Kassandra literal Eagle Vision, as she saw through his eyes.

If Kassandra was hunting, Ikaros would occasionally sweep down to get a kill of his own.

Behind the scenes

Ikaros in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey functions mostly the same as Senu in Assassin's Creed: Origins; the major difference is that Ikaros can hurt and even kill humans on his own, unlike Senu.

Ikaros shares his name with Daidalos' son Ikaros, who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death in Greek mythology.

Although Kassandra could summon Ikaros during her time in the simulations of Atlantis, Hades, and Elysium, it is not known how that was possible.

The natural life expectancy of a golden eagle is around 30 years. As Ikaros is first shown meeting Kassandra in 451 BCE and is implied to have been Pythagoras' companion for at least a few years before that, this would mean that by 420 BCE, when he was last seen alive, Ikaros was nearing the end of his life.

Gallery

• Young Kassandra with Ikaros
  Young Kassandra with Ikaros
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  Ikaros and Kassandra
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  Ikaros and Phoibe
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  Ikaros on Kassandra's arm
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  Kassandra petting Ikaros
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  Kassandra scratching Ikaros
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  Ikaros biting Kassandra
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  Ikaros attacking a soldier
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  Ikaros harassing a mercenary
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  Ikaros in flight

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
  • The Lost Tales of Greece
  • Legacy of the First Blade
  • The Fate of Atlantis
  • Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey novel
• Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide (2nd edition)
• Assassin's Creed: Where's the Assassin? (non-canonical appearance)