INSTRUCTIONS:

Please proceed with this assignment in the sequence of the numbers below. Your responses should be typed, neat and display a sincere effort at approaching the questions in a thoughtful way.

 

 

1.) Read the story of Midas as rold by Ovid through the link below. Note that the names and places you may have not heard of before are hyperlinked to an online encyclopedia (Perseus project)

Ovid Metamorphoses XI.85 - 146 [click here]

 

 

2.) Now write responses to each of the following questions:

  • What general character flaws does Midas seem to possess? Is he particularly wise?
  • How could poor judgement be a bad trait for a ruler or king?

 

 

3.) As far as we can tell Midas seems to have been an actual person. He was a ruler in Phrygia (modern day Western Turkey) some time from the late 8th to the early 7th century BC. Now read more about this at the hyperlinked page below.

Dr. G. Fiedler's website on Ancient Phrygia [click here]

 

 

4.) Please respond to the following questions

  • How does this account of who Midas was differ from what Ovid wrote?
  • Are the aims of each writer different or the same? If so, how?

5.) Examine the four pictures below and respond to the following question:

How accurately do you think these images depict what you have read about Midas? Do you have a favorite? Least Favorite? Why?

Lauri, Filippo

King Midas Judging the Musical Contest between Apollo and Pan

Italian painter, Roman school (b. 1623, Roma, d. 1694, Roma)

 

Weyer, Herman

The Judgment of Midas


German, 1616
Pen and black ink and black, ocher, reddish, and gray washes, heightened with white bodycolor
8 11/ 16 x 10 5/ 8 in.

Midas and his ears

Walter, Crane

King Midas and His Daugther Who has Turned to Gold

1892

Here are some mythology links if you are interested in learning more.

 

 

Gordion, Turkey - Burial mound of the historical king midas