King Midas: The Man with the Golden Touch (and Donkey Ears!)

 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Greetings, history buffs! First and foremost, I want to give a big shoutout to my friend Rukiye for suggesting this topic. You have excellent taste! 

In the Nathaniel Hawthorne version of the Midas myth, Midas' daughter turns to a golden statue when he touches her (illustration by Walter Crane for the 1893 edition)

Today, we're delving into the world of ancient myth and legend with the story of King Midas. I'm thrilled to be your guide on this journey, and I hope you're ready to learn about the man who could turn anything he touched into gold (and also ended up with donkey ears, but we'll get to that later).

The Judgement of Midas by Abraham Janssens

Midas was the king of Phrygia, which is now modern-day Turkey, during the 8th century BC. He was known for his great wealth and love of luxury, which is probably why he was so excited about his golden touch. Imagine being able to turn anything you wanted into pure gold - no wonder he was so eager to get his hands on it!

 A. Kuhrt, The Ancient Near East.

However, as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Midas soon realized that his golden touch wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Sure, he could turn sticks and stones into shiny new treasures, but he couldn't eat, drink, or even touch his own daughter without turning her into a statue of solid gold. Talk about a bad case of gold fever!

“Turns me to gold in the sunlight,” by Flrmprtrix on Deviantart

Thankfully, Midas was able to get rid of his curse with the help of the god Dionysus. He had to bathe in the Pactolus River (near Sardis in modern Turkey), and after that, he was back to being able to touch things without turning them into gold. Phew!

The over-life size second-century AD Ludovisi Dionysus, with panther, satyr, and grapes on a vine, Palazzo Altemps, Rome

But King Midas' story doesn't end there. He also had a run-in with the god Apollo, who gave him donkey ears as punishment for judging a musical contest unfairly. Yes, you read that right - donkey ears. Poor Midas must have had a hard time finding hats that fit!

Painting by Andrea Vaccaro, 1670 CE

All joking aside, King Midas's story is a fascinating one that teaches us about the dangers of greed and the importance of moderation. It's easy to get caught up in material possessions and forget what's truly important in life - but Midas's story reminds us that sometimes, having too much of a good thing can be a curse in itself.

KING MIDAS AND THE GOLDEN TOUCH, ILLUSTRATED BY KINUKO Y. CRAFT

So there you have it, folks - the story of King Midas, the man with the golden touch and the donkey ears. I hope you enjoyed learning about this legendary figure from ancient history. Until next time, stay curious and keep learning!

Midas Washing at the Source of the Pactolus Nicolas Poussin (French, Les Andelys 1594–1665 Rome)

Oh, by the way, Just wanted to remind you that in addition to my history blog, I also have another blog dedicated to the amazing stories and facts from aviation. It's called aviationisamazing.blogspot.com, and it's packed with interesting facts from the past and nowadays. If you're a fan of learning about aviation in a fun and engaging way, then be sure to check it out! Who knows, you might just learn something new, or at least have a good laugh. Let me know in the comments if you're interested in hearing more!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Helen of Troy: A Woman of Agency in Ancient Greece

Image
 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Hello, history buffs! Today, we're going to dive into one of the most famous figures of ancient Greek mythology - Helen of Troy. Get ready for a tale of beauty, betrayal, and maybe even a few cheesy jokes along the way! Helen of Troy 1898 Oil on canvas by Evelyn De Morgan on Wikipedia Helen was famously known as "the face that launched a thousand ships," and it's easy to see why. According to legend, she was so stunningly beautiful that men from all over Greece were willing to go to war over her. Talk about a powerful glow-up! Recovery of Helen by Menelaus on Wikipedia But beauty isn't everything, and unfortunately for Helen, her story is one of tragedy and heartbreak. You see, Helen was married to King Menelaus of Sparta, but that didn't stop the Trojan prince Paris from falling head over heels for her. The two of them ran off together, sparking a ten-year war between the Greeks and the Trojans. Ouch. Detail from The Love of Hel...
Read more

Polyksena: The Tragic Tale of Love and Sacrifice in the Trojan War

Image
 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Hello there, dear readers! Welcome to our historical blog, where we dive into captivating stories from the past. Today, we have an exciting tale to share with you about a remarkable figure from ancient history named Polyksena. So, buckle up and join us as we journey back in time! The Sacrifice of Polyxena, 1647, by Charles Le Brun, Metropolitan Museum of Art Polyksena, also known as Polyxena, was an intriguing character who lived during the time of the Trojan War, a legendary conflict that has inspired countless tales and captured the imagination of people for centuries. She was a princess, the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Now, let's delve into the life and fate of this extraordinary woman. Photo by Railly News Polyksena was renowned for her beauty, kindness, and intelligence. Her radiant charm captivated many hearts, including that of Achilles, the great Greek hero. It is said that Achilles fell deeply in love with Polyksena and d...
Read more

The Surprising Story of How Italy Changed Sides During World War II

Image
  HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Hello readers! Today, we are going to delve into one of the most intriguing and lesser-known stories of World War II. We all know that Italy was a staunch ally of Germany during the early years of the war. But did you know that Italy ultimately betrayed Germany and switched sides during the war? Yes, you read that right! Italy, which had been a loyal ally of Germany, eventually turned its back on the Axis powers and began secret negotiations with the Allied forces. It's a fascinating story that sheds light on the complex relationships between nations during a time of great conflict. At the beginning of the war, Italy joined forces with Germany and other Axis powers in an effort to expand their territories and exert their dominance over Europe. However, as the war progressed, Italy's leadership became increasingly disenchanted with the Axis powers and the direction of the war. In July 1943, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was overthrown and impr...
Read more