Tales of the Touch of Gold Trivia Quiz

Answer: Phrygia

Although the legendary kings of Phrygia are a topic of stories in Greek mythology, there was an ancient kingdom of Phrygia that was located in Anatolia. Historians also believe there was at least one historic King Midas, who ruled Phrygia in the 8th century BC when the kingdom was at the peak of its power.

He is believed, however, to have committed suicide when his capital city was pillaged by the Cimmerians. Over time the area of Phrygia became part of a succession of ancient empires, including Lydia, Persia, Macedonia, and Rome.

Answer: Gordias

There are many legends about Gordias; in one he was a poor farmer who was the last member of the royal house of Bryges. He is given credit for building the city of Gordium, which became the capital city of his kingdom. Some of the historic writers, like Arrian for example, wrote that Gordias did not become king; instead, his son, Midas was chosen.

Herodotus wrote that Gordias lived at the same time as the wealthy Croesus from Lydia.

Answer: Cybele

Cybele was the Mother Goddess of the ancient Phrygians, and is believed to have been the the only goddess they worshiped; it is possible that she was the highest deity in their pantheon. Associated with nature, fertility, and mountains, she is usually pictured in the presence of lions. From Phrygia the worship of Cybele made its way to Crete, and eventually to ancient Greece, where she was associated with Rhea, the Mother of the Gods, and Dionysus, the god of wine.

Answer: Driving an oxcart

The legend begins with a story that Gordias knew he would become king after an eagle landed on the pole his oxcart - and stayed there as he drove to the Oracle of Sabazios, who was comparable to the Greek god Zeus, to leave an offering. The people of the kingdom found themselves without a king; the oracle told them that their king would be the first man who drove up to the temple in an oxcart.

The historian Arrian wrote that Midas, a handsome young man at the time, became king instead of his father.

Answer: Knot

After Gordias (or Midas depending on the legend) became king, his vehicle was dedicated to Sabazios and displayed in the town square; it was, however, tied with a very intricate knot that was made of cornel (a members of the dogwood family) bark. The Roman historian Curtius described the knot as being "several knots all so tightly entangled that it was impossible to see how they were fastened".

There was a legend that whoever untied the knot would become Lord of Asia. When Alexander the Great visited the city, it was said that he tried unsuccessfully to untie the knot; one story says that finally, he took out his sword and cut it.

There is another story that he untied the knot by loosening the linchpin on the vehicle. Irregardless of how he accomplished the feat, Alexander did go on to fulfill the prophecy.

Answer: Dionysus

Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, was known as "The Wanderer" because he spent a lot of time away from Mt. Olympus. Why? His presence there was a constant reminder to Hera of the infidelity of Zeus, Dionysus' father, with the mortal woman, Semele. Dionysus seemed content to wander the countryside teaching the local people how to make wine from grapes, and traveled all the way to Asia. Happy in the company of satyrs and maenads as he traveled, it was written that he was staying in Lydia when he met up with Midas.

Answer: He was hospitable to the god's friend.

One story relates that Midas received his legendary touch of gold due to his kind treatment of Silenus, the friend of Dionysus. Apparently Silenus was typically drunk, even though he was revered as the oldest and wisest person in the retinue of Dionysus. After having too much to drink while the group was staying in nearby Lydia, he wandered off and became lost. Found by some Phrygian peasants or discovered in the rose garden of Midas by the king himself, he was allowed to stay at the palace for several days and treated him with the utmost respect. When Midas finally returned Silenus to Dionysus, he was rewarded with the selection of whatever he wished - after being admonished by Dionysus to choose well.

All of the other choices refer to some of the Labours of Hercules.

Answer: He washed his hands in the river.

While at first Midas was very excited about the gift, he became understandably concerned when he found that he couldn't eat. After hearing his appeal, Dionysus told Midas to wash his hands in the river Pactolus. This transferred his special gift to the river, where the sands were turned to gold. In addition, some stories state that the golden touch was reversed on any item placed in the water.

The ancient Greeks found electrum in the Pactolus River, which is located in eastern Turkey near the coast of the Aegean Sea. Electrum is actually an alloy of gold and silver, however, the ancient Greeks called it gold or white gold.

Answer: Throne

Herodotus said that King Midas made an offering of the throne "from which he made judgments" that were "well worth seeing". In addition, he also included the fact that Midas was the only foreigner to make such an offering. Not only that, but Herodotus also wrote that he actually saw the throne near the Corinthian Treasury when he visited Delphi!

In 1939 a small ivory statue of a lion tamer was found at Delphi near the Corinthian Treasury. Scholars believe that the statue is Phrygian, and there is evidence on its back that it used to be attached to something else. Was it part of the throne that Midas gave as an offering to Apollo?

Answer: Apollo

At one point in his life, apparently, Midas became interested in music; some sources say that he was taught by none other than Orpheus himself! When asked to judge a music contest between Apollo and Pan he agreed to choose who played the best music - Apollo with his lyre or Pan with his pipes.

After the experience that Midas had with the gift of the golden touch, one would think he would leave well enough alone! He choose Pan - and Apollo awarded him with a set of donkey ears, saying that Midas "must have ears of an ass"! Of course, Midas' barber was privy to the information, and had to promise that he wouldn't tell anyone.

Instead, he whispered the secret into a hole from which grasses sprang up, spreading the information to others.