Apollo gave him a pair of ass's ears -- an illustration to the children's story, Harry and Herodotus, or Tales of an Old Traveller. Midas, King of Phrygia, was called upon to judge a musical contest between Apollo, the God of music, and Pan, the God of flocks and herds. Midas decided in favour of Pan, whereupon Apollo, in token of his scorn of Midas' judgment, gave him a pair of ass's ears.