Midas Donkey Ears (Song)

The story of King Midas and his donkey ears is a myth that teaches the dangers of pride, poor judgment, and the futility of hiding the truth.

Pan vs. Apollo - The Musical Contest
The tale begins with the god Pan, who boasts that his rustic flute-playing surpasses Apollo's mastery of the lyre. Pan challenges Apollo to a musical contest, with the mountain god Tmolos acting as judge. The contest pits Pan's wild, untamed music against Apollo's celestial, harmonious melody.

Tmolos declares Apollo the winner, recognizing the divine beauty of his music. However, King Midas, who was among the audience, disagrees and voices his preference for Pan's tune, valuing its earthly charm over Apollo's perfection.

Apollo’s Punishment
Offended by Midas’s judgment, Apollo punishes him by giving him the ears of a donkey, a symbol of his foolishness and poor taste. Midas is mortified and hides his ears beneath a cap, hoping to keep his shame a secret.

The Barber’s Betrayal
Midas's barber discovers the truth while cutting the king's hair. Unable to keep the secret, the barber digs a hole in the ground and whispers, "King Midas has donkey ears!" into it. From this hole, reeds eventually grow, and when the wind blows through them, they "whisper" the secret to the world.