Activities

1. The myth of King Midas and his golden touch - Iseult Gillespie
https://youtu.be/nn8YGPZdCvA
In Greek mythology, King Midas is known as a rogue ruler whose antics bemused his
people and irritated the Gods. Many know the classic story of Midas's golden touch,
but the foolish king was also known for his unusual pair of ears. Iseult Gillespie shares
the myth of King Midas.
1.- Midas was the king of ______.
AGreece
BTroy
CPhrygia
DPhoenicia
2.- Dionysus was the Greek god of ______.
AGold
BCarnival
CKings
DHorses
3.- Midas washed his hands in the River Pactolus ______.
ATo increase his power
BTo bring his daughter back to life
CAs part of a ritual for Dionysus
DTo rid himself of the golden touch
4.- Midas angered Apollo because ______.
AHe doubted his talent
BHe disrespected him

2. CHe sacrificed a donkey
DHe doubted his talent and disrespected him
EHe doubted his talent and sacrificed a donkey
5.- When he learned the king’s secret, the barber ______.
ADidn’t tell another human
BTold only his wife
CWhispered it to the other barbers
DTold everyone immediately
6.- Why was Dionysus an appropriate god for Midas to follow?
7.- Why did the king wish for the golden touch? What are the dangers of the golden
touch?
8.- How did his people come to know about his donkey ears?
King Midas has appeared in many retellings of Greek mythology, which portray him
with varying degrees of sympathy. Some see him as a corrupted fool, others as
more of a bumbling figure who tried to reform his ways after the mistake of the
golden touch. One of the most well-known versions appears in Ovid’s Latin poetry
collection Metamorphosis, which tells the stories of many strange mutations and
transformations that happen to humans in Greek mythology. You can read a
translation of Ovid’s take on Midas here.
While the gods usually transform on demand, the morphing of humans into other
creatures is subject to the whims of the gods. In this case,
both Dionysus and Apollo intervene in Midas’s state of being. After an unfortunate
run-in with Apollo, Midas is left with the ears of a donkey. His cover-up for his
mutation is called a Phrygian cap. Learn more about the ancient kingdom of
Phrygia here.
Was there really a King Midas? This article tries to get at the truth behind the
myth, and this piece confirms that there was a ruler called Midas, and that the
excavation of his former kingdom has led to some surprising discoveries.

3. DISCUSS
Midas has been portrayed as a selfish ruler, a foolish man, and a king who strived to
be better. What’s your impression of him?