King Midas, who has an important place among legends, is a character enriched by stories and stories told throughout history. The life of this legendary king, especially known as “Donkey Eared King Midas”, has turned into the story of his wishes arising from his search for wealth and the regrets he experienced afterwards.
King Midas’ request for the gift of Dionysus and the curse he experienced afterwards are among the legends circulated among the people. This situation represents only a part of Midas’ life, which was not only rich but also full of mistakes and painful moments. The life of this legendary figure includes a story that ranges from the search for wealth to regrets and ultimately regaining his freedom.
Who is King Midas?
Legendary man who lived between 738 BC and 696 BC king of phrygiaKing Midas or as he is known in Assyrian sources Mushkili Mitathe capital of Phrygia, founded in Polatlı GordionHe reigned in. There are many legends and mythologies about Midas’ life and death, as well as his kingship. Midas, who encountered various difficulties throughout his life, usually “donkey ears” or “the ability to turn everything you touch into gold” It is known for.
King Midas skullnowadays Anatolian Civilizations MuseumIt is exhibited in. As a result of scientific research, it was determined that Midas had an illness at birth and his ear canals developed asymmetrically. Asymmetrical ear structure is a very rare condition and manifests itself when one ear of the person is significantly higher or lower than the other. This disease left distinct scars on Midas’ skull and created a significant difference in his appearance.
Midas always wore a scarf so that his people would not be ashamed of him. However, his people gossiped about their king’s ears and made comments by comparing the ears they could not see to donkey ears. This situation caused the rumors circulating among the public about Midas’ ears to become stronger.
The Prophesied Kingdom of King Midas
King Midas, Phrygia regionHe lived in; This region is today known as Eskişehir, Kütahya and Afyon. Gordion, capital of PhrygiaAccording to various sources, it was founded by Gordios, the father of Midas and the other known king of Phrygia.
According to historical records, after the death of Gordios, one of the leading kings of Phrygia, the people were uncertain about who the new king would be and asked for help from the oracles. The priests said, “The first person to enter the city with a horse-drawn carriage will be the king!” They made a prophecy as follows. In line with this prophecy, TelmessosMidas and his family were in the car that entered Phrygia from (today’s Fethiye).
Midas succeeded his father to the throne and made Phrygia experience one of its richest and most prosperous periods. Midas is one of the well-known kings of the Phrygian country and is often referred to as Phrygian kings or Gordios or midas It was called. Based on the few documents available, it is estimated that the capital Gordion was founded by Gordios and Midas came to the throne after this reign.
According to archaeological records, Anatolia and Greece in 1360 BC, with a big earthquake is shaken. Many cities are destroyed during this disaster. According to rumors continent of Atlantis It also disappears in this earthquake and is submerged under water. After this disaster, Thracian tribes from Ancient Greece and Macedonia migrated in search of new places. A group from this wave of migration heads towards the north of the Black Sea and meets with a tribe called Iran, crosses the Caucasus and settles in the territory of today’s Iran. Another group moves towards Egypt by sea, but Pharaoh III. Ramses’He/she cannot enter Egypt due to the obstacle of .
During this period, prevailing in Anatolia Hittite Kingdom He weakened while struggling with the plague epidemic and rebellions. Another group coming from Thrace crossed the straits to Anatolia around 1200 BC and put an end to Hittite domination. The Phrygians established a kingdom with Gordion as its capital, which grew in a short time and took control of Central Anatolia.
Phrygia experienced its most glorious period during the reign of King Midas. Midas was one of the most famous kings of his age. Assyrian king SargonIn the written records of ““Mita of the Mushkis” It is referred to as. After the death of King Midas, the city of Gordion continued its existence in abundance and prosperity until the end of the 6th century BC.
The Mysterious Death of King Midas
King Midas’ election as king and his sad donkey ears throughout his life, as well as his death, are the subject of legends. Midas thought he had a magnificent capital, but today, Midas’ Gordion, which surprises those who see it even with its walls and castle gate, is the city that devoured Anatolia like a swarm of locusts in 695 BC. Cimmerian Unable to withstand the raid, it collapsed. Even though he survived this raid, he lived a troubled life after that day. According to mythology, Midas wandered over the ruined ruins of Gordion. committed suicide by drinking bull blood.
However, experts have reached different findings by examining King Midas’s skull with 3D tomography. As a result of the examinations, significant changes were detected in the internal structure of the skull, and a fracture line was observed from the right corner of the eye socket upwards. It was noticed that there was no major change in a small piece of bone examined by pathologists, but there were some brown spots at the microscopic level. It was determined with a special dye that these spots contained iron and were pigments resulting from the residues of blood elements. The cause of Midas’ death was not from committing suicide by drinking bull’s blood, as described in mythology. a heavy blow to the right side of his head It has been proven that he was killed as a result.
Although it was claimed that the body skeleton belonging to Midas was lost, the skull, on which various studies have been carried out since 1992, is today exhibited in the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara.
Midas Turns Everything He Touches into Gold
The story of Midas begins with Satiros, a companion of Dionysus, the god of wine, falling asleep in King Midas’ rose garden while traveling through Phrygia. Midas finds Satiros and hosts him in his palace for ten days and nights. His hospitality attracts the attention of Dionysus and he tells Midas that he will grant him one wish. King Midas wishes that everything he touches turns into gold and that he becomes richer.
But everything Midas touches turns to gold, from food to drinks and even the famous rose garden. Thereupon, Midas to take back this sinister power He asks Dionysus. God took pity on Midas Paktalos RiverHe tells her to wash in . Midas was saved from this curse by bathing in the river, and according to legend, the gold particles in the river are attributed to this event.
The Legend of Midas’ Donkey Ears
An instrument playing competition was held between Apollo, who is considered the god of music, art, sun, fire and poetry, and Pan, the God of the Wilderness. In this competition, Midas was chosen as one of the judges. Pan, the god of the field, was making enchanting sounds on his pipe; But Apollo’s silver lyre was influencing everyone. When Apollo started playing, everyone was amazed by his melody. Although the other judge, the mountain god Tmolos, gave a wreath to Apollo, Midas used his vote in favor of Pan, and Apollo became angry. “The ears of someone who cannot distinguish beautiful music cannot be human ears, donkey ears suit you!” he said, turning Midas’ ears into donkey ears.
Midas hid the god’s gift under a large hood. However, the barber who cut his hair finally saw his ears and learned the king’s secret. Was it possible to keep this secret with a human mouth? The barber, in pain and suffering unbearable pain, decided to shout his secret into a well. Leaning into the well, “Midas has donkey ears!” yell. The secret was spread by the water of the well to the reeds, and the reeds were spread by the wind and reached the whole country. The people began to make fun of Midas and organized entertaining shows about him with shadow plays.
Midas decided to have his ears cut off and he fulfilled his wish. However, the ears he cut off quickly returned to their original state. Everyone made fun of him and “donkey-eared Midas” began to call it. The king prayed to God, “God, fix these ears of mine, but take all my wealth in return.” said. God forgave him and Midas’ ears returned to their former state. However, before anyone saw this, he secretly took his life and buried him in a grave.
