King Midas

***Miscellaneous Myths: King Midas*** is the seventy-first entry in the *Miscellaneous Myths* series by Red; it's the story of King Midas, the foolish king of Phrygia who features in two cautionary tales, the most famous of which is Midas' Golden Touch, the myth of how Midas got to turn everything he touched into gold and all the bad consequences this came with. Although no malicious by any means, Midas still was seen as an example to avoid.

## Summary

King Midas features in two myths, both cautionary tales; the first, the more known, is a tale warning of the dangers of poor thinking through one's wishes and actions.

The story starts with Dionysus, god of wine, noticing that his retinue is missing one important person; Silenus, his foster father. Silenus after much drinking ended up in the garden of King Midas, and was brought to him by his guards. Midas, recognizing the old man, offered him hospitality and kept him in court for ten days of feasting. On the tenth day Dionysus showed up to pick up Silenus, and was so happy with Midas' treatment of him that he promised Midas a boon, any wish he had in mind. Midas then asked for the gift to turn into gold everything he touched; Dionysus knew this to be a bad idea, but complied nevertheless.

Midas was most delighted with his new ability and riches, but not for long. No later than dinnertime he regreted his decision, as *everything* he touched turned into gold, including food and drink, which he could no long consume. Red notes that the popular telling of Midas accidentally turning his own daughter into gold (which Red referenced in the earlier video *Dionysus*) is no part of the ancient myth, but rather an addition by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1851. Ovid's Midas did not need any more pursuasion than hunger to ask Dionysus to get his boon back. Dionysus then directed him to the river Pactolus, where Midas washed himself off his golden touch, making the river rich in gold deposits in the process (a real fact about the ancient river; this myth explains among others why Pactolus had so much gold).

Free of his curse and riches, Midas decided to take a break and relax by living alone in the woods. There he met Pan, the rustic god of the wilderness. Pan was playing his panpipes, and got so into the moment he bragged about being a better musician than Apollo. Apollo heard of that grand boast, and came down to challenge Pan to a music contest. Pan played a lovely rustic melody with his panpipes, but Apollo, the very god of music itself, played his lyre so breath-takingly he charmed everyone. The judge, the mountain-god Tmolus], easily gave Apollo the victory; but Midas then said that in his opinion, Midas was the better musician. Apollo said that Midas must have ass' ears to believe that; and true enough Midas' normal human ears were turned to those of a donkey.

Midas wore a large turban in order to hide his shame and his ears, but he could not keep this secret from his barber. The barber was discreet enough and did not rat Midas out, but having enough of that, he dug a hole in the ground and whispered "Midas has ass's ears". Reeds sprang from that spot, and everytime the wind blew through them, they whispered the secret for the whole world to know.

## Credits

In the credits, Red sings *Glitter and Gold* by Barns Courtney.

## Characters appearing

Dionysus

Silenus

Midas

Pan

Apollo

Tmolus

Midas' barber