King Midas and the Golden Touch

The story of King Midas is a myth about the tragedy of avarice, so it narrates what
happens when true happiness is not recognized. Midas was a man who had a greedy
wish, but it ends as a cursed which no blessing may cure. The consequences that he
suffered let us know how deeply we can become slaves of our own desires.

A king’s desire
Once upon a time there lived a king named Midas, who ruled the country of Phrygia, in
Asia Minor, and who loved gold so much. King Midas had a daughter named Zoë, whom
he loved with all his heart. But Midas often neglected his child, for he spent all his time
admiring his treasure rooms and counting his gold.
Even though he was very rich, splendidly rich, marvelously rich indeed, Midas thought
that his greatest happiness would be provided by gold. The palace was filled with lots of
wonderful and expensive objects, those that a king could have for his own.
His avarice was such that he used to spend his days counting his golden coins, touching
his silver shields, and placing his jewels one by one over the luxurious carpets.
Occasionally he used to cover his body with gold objects, as if he wanted to bath in them.
Money was his obsession.
Zoë did not care for jewels or gold. She loved walking barefoot in her simple clothes over
grassy fields. She loved the feel of the wind in her hair, roses and bird songs, the light in
the sky at dusk and dawn, the scent of wood smoke and lilacs. She often walked alone,
wishing that her father would join her and learn to love the world as she did.
One day as Midas sat in his treasure room counting his gold, a man appeared before
him. He did not look like any ordinary man. He wore a leopard skin around his broad,
bronzed shoulders and vines were twined around his head. He was a god, indeed, he
was Dionysus, the god of wine and celebration. He explain to the king that, for a kind
situation in past, he decided to come and see Midas.
Then Midas remembered what it was, for he found and helped one of the companions
of Dionysus. It was Silenus, a satyr who got tired and decided to take a nap in the famous
rose gardens surrounding the palace on king Midas.
Midas had given him food and shelter, and the old man had thanked him and promised
he would be rewarded. So a god had come to give thanks. Midas was thrilled. But he had
to fear-no, though Dionysus is well-known for his tricks, he wanted to reward the king
for his actions.
The god said that he will grant any wish that king Midas had inside his heart, anything
that his mortal mind could think. Midas thought for a while and then he said he wanted
that everything he touches will become solid gold.
And with the snap of a branch, Dionysus warned the king of asking for greedy wishes,
but the king stayed still and strong in his decision. Dionysus could do nothing else and
promised the king that from that following gay, everything he touched would turn into
gold.

The touch of a golden curse

Next day, Midas woke up eager to see if his wish would become true. He extended his
arm touching a small table that immediately turned into gold. Midas jumped out with
happiness.
Just then Midas heard the bell calling him to eat. He turned to leave the room, but as he
touched the door, he gasped, for it had turned to gold. He touched his robe, and it too
turned to gold. He looked down and saw that his leather sandals were pure gold.
He walked through the hallways, touching everything he passed. The columns turned to
gold, as did the floor beneath his feet. By the time he reached the table, he was
brimming with excitement.
Just when the daughter of Midas saw the act at the hall, he stopped for a second. She
saw that scene with eyes of incredulity, and thought he was been cursed. But Midas was
so delighted with his new powers that even wanted to touch the bread and wine in front
him.
But to his horror, the bread had turned to gold. This was terrible indeed! He could not
eat anything, drink anything or taste anything for everything he touched turned to gold.
Staring down at his golden plate, he wondered what to do.
Zoë was gloomy and she ran to his side to comfort him. Midas yelled trying to stop her,
but before he could even apart away, she had thrown her arms around him, and now
his precious daughter was hard and cold, a golden statue, no longer a child.
Midas cried his lost and shouted the god’s name, asking for an auction. But the god was
far away by then. He did not hear the king's cry. All that night the poor king wept, holding
his daughter in his arms, wishing he could undo what he had done.

Bathe the sin of greed

Just next day, at dawn Dionysus appeared. He looked down to the king’s face and asked
him if he still love gold so much, even more than those around him. Midas, who was
around the golden grass and golden flowers of his garden, declined the power of his
touch.
As if it was a well-planned threat, Dionysus told Midas to bathe on the waters of the
river Pactolus nearby. And so Midas ran like lightning to the river and dived into the
water. As he did, small golden pellets floated past, but Midas no longer cared for these.
He scrubbed and prayed to the gods, and before long his clothing became soft and white
again, and his sandals turned to soft leather.
He ran back to the palace and embraced his daughter to him, who was lying on the floor
of the hall. A moment later she began to grow soft and warm. Her lips began to move
and her eyes began to blink. Midas held her close to him.
That night as Midas ate his dinner, he licked his lips. He enjoyed every essence and every
flavor. When he unfolded his napkin, he smiled at Zoë and said that its linen were so
beautiful. He took Zoë’s hands in his, looking at her child’s eyes and proclaiming her as
the most important treasure of all.
That evening, Zoë and King Midas walked into the woods, and he found more happiness
there than he had ever known. Now Midas understood what real treasures were.

Meaning of Midas’ Tale

This story is often used to make children understand the consequences of being greed,
as we see the desires of Midas for getting more gold and treasures that he has. Just
when he lost what really matters, he was conscious of his mistake.
This myth also explained the actual presence of gold dust in the river bed of the Pactolus.
Furthermore, the expression “Midas touch” was used to tell an uncanny ability for
making money in every venture. When "Midas touch" is used today, the moral of this
tale of greed is usually ignored.