Which type of music did Midas least prefer?

Explore the Certamen Mythology Exam. Prepare with tailored flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get ready to master your test material!

Midas is a well-known figure from Greek mythology, often associated with wealth and the ability to turn everything he touched into gold. However, he also has a famous story related to his musical preferences. According to the myth, when Midas judged a musical contest between Apollo, the god of music, and Pan, the god of the wild, he favored Pan's music played on the reed pipes over Apollo's lyre music. This decision led to Apollo punishing Midas by giving him the ears of a donkey, symbolizing his poor judgment in musical taste.

Given this context, Midas least preferred the music of the lyre, as represented by Apollo, who was considered the superior musician. In fact, Midas's punishment was a direct result of his preference for Pan’s simpler, rustic music over the more refined and elegant lyre music associated with Apollo. Thus, the answer is clearly indicated by Midas's actions and the consequences he faced in the myth.

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