The Golden Touch of King Midas

Introduction to King Midas

Once upon a time, there was a king named Midas who was extremely greedy, foolish, and mean. The only thing that truly mattered to him was money. Midas resided in a magnificent palace filled with priceless treasures and casks overflowing with gold. All he sought was to accumulate even more riches for his collection.

An Unexpected Visitor

One day, his servants brought an old man before him, hoping to speak with the king. The old man wore a crown made of wildflowers and ivy, and his clothes were wrinkled and covered in dust. Midas scrutinized the man closely, certain he had seen his face before, but he could not recall from where. Suddenly, the old man’s name popped into his mind.

“Why, it is my old friend Silenus, the teacher of Bacchus!” exclaimed the king. Bacchus, the god of wine, had many admirers, and it was no surprise when Midas ordered an extravagant feast in honor of his unexpected guest. No expense was spared; the finest wine, food, and entertainment were brought to the palace. The grand feast lasted for ten whole days.

The Wish Granted

Finally, on the eleventh day, Midas said to the old man, “Dear friend, I would gladly entertain you for the rest of my life, but I am afraid your pupil Bacchus will be worried about your absence. I think it is time you returned to him.” Silenus agreed that it was time to go, and Midas promised to accompany him on the journey homebound.

On Mount Olympus, Bacchus was indeed concerned about Silenus’s whereabouts and was ready to send out a search party when Silenus, accompanied by the king, appeared in sight. Overjoyed to see his teacher return safely, Bacchus decided to grant Midas any wish he desired.

With his characteristic greed, King Midas replied, “I wish that everything I touch turns to gold.” “Your wish is granted,” said Bacchus.

The Curse of Greed

Without taking the time to thank the god or refresh himself after his long journey, Midas hurried home, eager to test out his new power and increase his wealth. As he passed through a wood, he broke off a branch from an oak tree, and it immediately turned to gold. Overjoyed, the king ran home. However, after traveling about five miles, he soon grew tired and stopped by a stream to wash his hands. Unfortunately, the water that fell from his hands also turned to sparkling gold.

Upon arriving home, he touched the huge doors of the palace, and they transformed into shining gold. “Now I can be the richest man in the world,” he mused, feeling very satisfied with himself.

A Lesson Learned

The long and tiring journey had left the king with a hearty appetite. He ordered his servants to prepare a grand feast with everything in the royal pantry. Alas, King Midas discovered that he could not eat a single thing; every morsel he touched turned into gold. Even the wine turned to liquid gold. For three long days, he could only gaze at the beautiful food without tasting a bite. In utter despair, King Midas turned once more to Bacchus.

“Oh, mighty Bacchus,” he cried, lifting his arms, now covered in shining golden fabric, towards Mount Olympus. “Oh, mighty Bacchus, I have been a fool to ask for this gift. Please have pity on me and free me from this terrible spell so that I can eat and drink.” “I want to make you happy,” Bacchus replied, “but first, you must rid yourself of all the gold you possess. Go to the River Pattolo and wash yourself in its waters.”

The River Pattolo

The River Pattolo was located in Asia Minor, far from the king’s palace, but Midas was willing to travel anywhere to be rid of the spell. After a long journey, he reached the banks of the river and flung himself into the water. He scrubbed his skin so hard that it became sore, but when he emerged, he was overjoyed to see that his body had returned to its natural color.

Happy and content, King Midas sat on the riverbank and observed the world with new eyes. Beautiful, long-necked swans glided across the water, and the countryside was adorned with a vibrant carpet of green grass and wildflowers. Most importantly, when he left the river, he cast aside all his meanness and greed.

The Legacy of Midas

Even to this day, in Asia Minor, small pieces of gold can still be found in the River Pattolo, and people say that these are the remnants of the gold left behind by King Midas.