Gather round for a story of King Midas, Dionysus, and the golden touch...There is much to be said about pockets lined with silver, decadent castles, and being born into the lap of luxury. But, although material wealth can make a pauper feel like a prince, as Midas learned, not all that glitters is gold.
Or actually, all that glitters is gold, and that was precisely the problem.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s back up:
Long before Midas inherited the golden touch, he was the King of Phrygia. Known for the magnificent gardens encircling his palace, Midas had an eye for beauty. He loved roses, silk sheets, good wine, and of course, gold. But he also favored the gods, so when the royal guards found Silenus sleeping off a hangover in one of the gardens, the king wasn’t angry – he was delighted. So delighted, in fact, that Midas invited Silenus inside.
A god of wild lands and spontaneity, Silenus wasn’t the most civilized guest. But only because he spent most of his time in the forests, where he sang, danced, loved, and indulged in as much wine as his heart desired.
And if you’re thinking, wait – this sounds a lot like another god of wine and revelry known as Dionysus, you’re right.
You see, Silenus was Dionysus’ mentor. From the time Dionysus was a babe, Silenus and the forest nymphs cared for him, tutored him, and essentially raised the boy. So when the child grew into a man, and eventually, the Greek God of wine, harvesttime, and earthly delights, it was his turn to look after his adopted father. As thanks for his sacrifice, Dionysus swore no harm would come to him. In return, Silenus became a follower of Dionysus and his wild ways.
King Midas knew all about Silenus and his love of food and drink, so he had his servants set the table with roasted pheasant, stew, tarts, pudding, and plenty of wine. After Silenus was sated and sleepy, Midas offered him an entire wing of the castle. He didn’t give Silenus any rules (perhaps the king knew he wouldn’t follow them) but instead, allowed him to live as he normally would – singing, dancing, loving, and indulging in all the luxuries royal life provided.
It didn’t take long for word to get back to Dionysus that his father had taken up residence in the palace of Phrygia. This wasn’t the first time Dionysus had to get Silenus out of trouble, but when he arrived at the castle and saw how Midas treated his mentor (like a king), he told the man that as a reward, he would grant him one wish.
Although Midas’s lifestyle was far more extravagant than the common person’s, he explained to Dionysus that he was bored with his daily routine and mortal limitations. So, he wished for something extraordinary – for all that he touched to turn to gold.
With his new magical touch, Midas pranced around the estate. He turned windows into golden mirrors and the logs in the fireplace into gold bars. He wandered into the garden and touched his beloved roses, transforming them into golden statues and the fountains into unmoving, yellow rivers. Even as his clothes became heavy and stiff (because tunics spun from gold weigh much more than silk), Midas convinced himself that only good things could come from his golden touch.
But then Midas grew hungry. Since he had turned all the wood to gold, the cook had no logs to burn. He wandered through his orchards, searching for a tree that remained green, and jumped for joy when he spotted one far in the distance. However, as soon as Midas plucked an apple from its branch, the fruit, trunk, and all the leaves turned into solid gold.
Now, this is when Midas began to worry. He ran back to the castle and was about to call for Dionysus when his daughter rushed into the room. She was curious about the gold mirrors, furniture, and floors, but when she saw her distraught father, she rushed to his side and embraced him.
Like the windows, logs, roses, fountains, and all the king’s clothes, the girl turned to gold.
Finally, Midas realized that his golden touch was not a blessing but a curse. He called Dionysus back to the castle, and perhaps because the king had shown Silenus such gracious hospitality, when he asked to rescind his wish, Dionysus agreed.
He told the king that all he must do was bathe in the river Pactolus. He explained that as the water washed the gold from the king’s body, the river would inherit his power.
Midas did as the god instructed, and as soon as the golden touch was rinsed from his skin, all that was wrong in the world righted itself. The river Pactolus inherited veins of gold, and the king finally saw the error of his ways. In the end, Midas understood that not even a gift from the gods was worth his roses, silk sheets, and life’s simple pleasures.
