King Midas Comprehension Questions: Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

King Midas and His Golden Touch

Greek Mythology

King Midas is a famous character from Greek mythology. He was a king of Phrygia, a region in Asia Minor, known for his greed and foolishness. The stories of Midas are part of the Dionysiac cycle of legends, which were first elaborated in the burlesques of the Athenian satyr plays.

Golden Touch Curse

Midas was a man who was obsessed with gold. He spent his days counting his golden coins and even covered his body with gold objects. One day, Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, passed through Midas' kingdom. As a reward for showing kindness to Dionysus' companion, Silenus, Midas was granted a wish. Midas, blinded by his greed, wished that everything he touched would turn into gold.

Midas' Wish

The next day, Midas woke up eager to see his wish come true. He touched various objects around his palace, and everything turned into gold. However, when he touched food, it also turned into gold, leaving him unable to eat. He realized his mistake and begged Dionysus to reverse the curse.

Greed Consequences

The consequences of Midas' greed were severe. He was left with gold, but no food, causing him to starve. His daughter, when he hugged her, also turned into a golden statue. Eventually, Midas was granted a way to reverse the curse. He was told to go to the river Pactolus and wash his hands, which would cause the gold to flow from his hands and return to its original state.

Moral Lessons

The story of King Midas serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed. The phrase "the Midas touch" comes from this myth and is used to describe someone who has a good fortune. The lesson to be learned is that wealth should not be the sole focus of one's life, and that true happiness cannot be bought.