In Greek mythology, King Midas was a legendary figure known for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold. However, his golden touch was not a blessing but a curse. According to the myth, the curse was inflicted upon King Midas by the god Dionysus, also known as Bacchus. The story goes that one day, a drunken man named Silenus, who was a companion of Dionysus, got lost and stumbled upon the kingdom of King Midas. Silenus was brought before the king, who treated him with great hospitality and returned him safely to Dionysus. In gratitude, Dionysus offered to grant King Midas a wish as a reward for his kindness.

King Midas

An Ancient Greek myth warning about the dangers of greed.

Story

One day in his rose garden, King Midas stumbles upon a satyr called Silenus, who is the companion of the god Dionysus. For his kind treatment of Silenus, Midas is granted a wish by Dionysus. The King wishes that everything he touches would turn to gold. The wish is granted but will it bring King Midas happiness?

Why we chose it

King Midas is one of the stories included The Story Museum original audio stories collection. These stories are particularly suitable for learning to retell. It is one of the best known Greek legends with its clear warning about the dangers of greed.

Where it came from

This story is a Greek and Roman legend. It appears in the Latin poem Metamorphoses written by the Roman poet Ovid in 8 AD.

Where it went next

King Midas has appeared in many collections of children’s stories, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1893 edition of A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys. Ted Hughes retold it in Tales from Ovid (1997)

Midas appears in The Lost Hero, the first book in Rick Riordan’s The Heroes of Olympus series, a spin off from his popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Both sets of novels are fantasy adventure based on Greek and Roman myths.

Associated stories

In another related story, King Midas is asked to judge a musical contest between Apollo and Pan. Midas chooses Pan and Apollo takes revenge by changing his ears into those of an ass. Midas tries to hide his embarrassing ears. His barber, bursting to tell the secret, whispers it into a hole in the ground. A similar story from India, The King Has Donkey's Ears can be found in our 1001 collection.

King Midas and his touch

The story of King Midas is a myth about the tragedy of avarice and narrates what happens when true happiness is not recognized. Midas was a man who wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. However, he had not thought that this wish was not actually a blessing, but a curse. His greed invites us to think and realize the consequences that may lead us to become slaves of our own desires. The phrase the Midas touch comes from this myth and is used to say that somebody has a good fortune.

In gratitude, Dionysus offered to grant King Midas a wish as a reward for his kindness. Without much thought, King Midas wished for everything he touched to turn into gold. Dionysus warned him about the consequences of such a wish but granted it nonetheless.

Discover the myth of King Midas and his golden touch

The wish

Midas was a king of great fortune who ruled the country of Phrygia, in Asia Minor. He had everything a king could wish for. He lived in luxury in a great castle. He shared his life of abundance with his beautiful daughter. Even though he was very rich, Midas thought that his greatest happiness was provided by gold. His avarice was such that he used to spend his days counting his golden coins! Occasionally he used to cover his body with gold objects, as if he wanted to bath in them. Money was his obsession.

One day, Dionyssus, the god of wine and revelry, passed through the kingdom of Midas. One of his companions, a satyr named Silenus, got delayed along the way. Silenus got tired and decided to take a nap in the famous rose gardens surrounding the palace of king Midas. There, he was found by the king, who recognized him instantly and invited him to spend a few days at his palace. After that, Midas took him to Dionyssus. The god of celebration, very grateful to Midas for his kindness, promised Midas to satisfy any wish of him. Midas though for a while and then he said: I hope that everything I touch becomes gold. Dionyssus warned the king to think well about his wish, but Midas was positive. Dionyssus could do nothing else and promised the king that from that following day everything he touched would turn into gold.

The curse

The 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 with happiness! He then touched a chair, the carpet, the door, his bathtub, a table and so he kept on running in his madness all over his palace until he got exhausted and happy at the same time! He sat at the table to have breakfast and took a rose between his hands to smell its fragrance. When he touched it, the rose became gold. I will have to absorb the fragrance without touching the roses, I suppose, he thought in disappointment.

Without even thinking, he ate a grape but it also turned into gold! The same happened with a slice of bread and a glass of water. Suddenly, he started to sense fear. Tears filled his eyes and that moment, his beloved daughter entered the room. When Midas hugged her, she turned into a golden statue! Despaired and fearful, he raised his arms and prayed to Dionyssus to take this curse from him.

The atonement

The god heard Midas and felt sorry for him. He told Midas to go to river Pactolus and wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was astonished to see gold flowing from his hands. The ancient Greeks said they had found gold on the banks of the river Pactolus. When he turned home, everything Midas had touched had become normal again.

Midas hugged his daughter in full happiness and decided to share his great fortune with his people. From now on, Midas became a better person, generous and grateful for all goods of his life. His people led a prosperous life and when he died, they all mourned for their beloved king.

Previous myth: Pygmalion and Galatea | Next myth: The myth of Europa

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Midas

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• Theoi - Midas, Greek mythology
• Ancient Origins - Everything he Touched Turned to Gold: The Myth and Reality of King Midas
• World History Encyclopedia - Midas
• Encyclopedia Mythica - Midas
• Greek Gods and Goddessess - King Midas

• Midas - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Midas - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Theoi - Midas, Greek mythology
• Ancient Origins - Everything he Touched Turned to Gold: The Myth and Reality of King Midas
• World History Encyclopedia - Midas
• Encyclopedia Mythica - Midas
• Greek Gods and Goddessess - King Midas

• Midas - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Midas - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Midas, in Greek and Roman legend, a king of Phrygia, known for his foolishness and greed. The stories of Midas, part of the Dionysiac cycle of legends, were first elaborated in the burlesques of the Athenian satyr plays. The tales are familiar to modern readers through the late classical versions, such as those in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book XI.

According to the myth, Midas found the wandering Silenus, the satyr and companion of the god Dionysus. For his kind treatment of Silenus Midas was rewarded by Dionysus with a wish. The king wished that all he touched might turn to gold, but when his food became gold and he nearly starved to death as a result, he realized his error. Dionysus then granted him release by having him bathe in the Pactolus River (near Sardis in modern Turkey), an action to which the presence of alluvial gold in that stream is attributed.

In another story the king was asked to judge a musical contest between Apollo and Pan. When Midas decided against Apollo, the god changed his ears into those of an ass. Midas concealed them under a turban and made his barber swear to tell no living soul. The barber, bursting with his secret, whispered it into a hole in the ground. He filled in the hole, but reeds grew from the spot and broadcast the sibilant secret—“Midas has ass’s ears”—when the wind blew through them.

King Midas: The Legend With The Golden Touch

King Midas of Phrygia was a legendary ruler known for his powerful touch that turned everything into gold.

Judgment of Midas, Unknown Flemish artist, imitator of Hendrik van Balen, late 16th century, via Hermitage Museum; King Midas, Andrea Vaccaro, 1670, via Dorotheum

King Midas of Phrygia is a legendary figure of Greek Mythology. His place in Greek literature and culture is a curious one. On one hand, he is honored and famous for being a man of legendary wealth. On the other hand, he is often ridiculed and presented as an arrogant and effeminate character. The most popular myth about Midas is the one where the king gains the Midas touch, the infamous skill of turning everything he touched to gold with disastrous consequences. In another story, he gets the ears of a donkey as punishment for his arrogance.

Get ready to explore the fascinating myth of Midas, the king that got his hands on more gold than he could handle.

King Midas was delighted at first, amused by the transformation of objects into gold. However, his joy soon turned into despair when he realized that even food and drink turned into gold upon contact, rendering him unable to consume anything. Realizing the gravity of his situation, King Midas pleaded with Dionysus to take back the wish. Dionysus agreed on the condition that King Midas would show humility and learn his lesson. King Midas, desperate to be free from his curse, readily agreed. Dionysus instructed him to go to the river Pactolus and wash away his golden touch. King Midas followed the instructions and his golden touch was restored to normal. The myth of King Midas serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of greed and selfishness. King Midas, driven by his desire for wealth, paid a heavy price for his wish. The curse was a punishment for his lack of foresight and consideration for others. It was Dionysus who ultimately decided to teach King Midas a lesson and break his curse, highlighting the power and wisdom of the gods. In conclusion, the curse on King Midas was inflicted by Dionysus as a punishment for King Midas' greed and desire for wealth. The myth serves as a timeless reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of humility..

Reviews for "The curse that transformed King Midas' life forever: a closer look"

1. John - 1 star - I found "Who cursed midas" to be incredibly disappointing. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, with no clear direction. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect or care about them. Additionally, the writing style was subpar, with awkward dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by this book.

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3. Robert - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Who cursed midas" as I found it incredibly boring and unengaging. The narrative lacked any real excitement or suspense, making it difficult to stay invested in the story. The writing style felt flat and uninspired, with lengthy and unnecessary descriptions that only served to slow down the already slow-paced plot. The characters were forgettable, and their actions often lacked believable motivations. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and captivating read.

4. Emily - 2 stars - "Who cursed midas" didn't live up to my expectations. While the concept was intriguing, the execution left a lot to be desired. The pacing was uneven, with long periods of stagnation followed by rushed plot developments. This made it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. The characters were also underdeveloped, and their relationships felt forced or unrealistic. The writing style was average, with nothing particularly memorable or unique. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and not worth the investment of time.

The secrets behind the curse that turned everything to gold for Midas