History of Europe

Myth of King Midas

Believing that he had acquired great power, Midas realized that his greed would lead to his death.

By Tales Pinto

A myth well known to both Greeks and Romans was that of King Midas . Like all myths of Classical Antiquity, the purpose of spreading Midas' shenanigans was to shed light on human greed.

Midas was king of Phrygia and son of the peasant Gordian. His royalty was inherited from his father, after he was chosen by the people of the place, who understood the arrival of Gordium as the fulfillment of an oracle's prophecy. The prophecy said that the king of Phrygia would arrive in a cart and, while the population was discussing this fate, Gordius arrived with his wife and son in a cart. After his death, Midas became the king.

One ​​day, Midas received a visit from some peasants who took to him an old man, drunk and lost, whom they had found on one of the paths of the kingdom. Midas recognized the old man:he was Silenus, master and foster-father of Bacchus. Midas took care of Silenus and took him to Bacchus. The god of the vine and wine, very benevolent, granted Midas a wish. The latter, without much thought, asked for the gift of turning everything he touched into gold. Even sensing Midas' greedy eagerness, Bacchus made the request.

King Midas returned home happy and also surprised by the ability he had acquired. He turned various things into gold along the way:stones, foliage, fruits... Upon reaching his house, he ordered the servants to serve him a feast. Upon touching the bread, it was turned into gold. As he picked up the wineglass and touched his lips to the drink, it turned to liquid gold. Midas was desperate as he realized he could never feed again. His daughter Phoebe, seeing his despair, tried to help him and, upon touching him, turned into a golden statue.

More desperate still Midas prayed to Bacchus, asking him to deliver him from what was actually a curse. Bacchus consented and told Midas that he should bathe in the source of the river Pactolus so that he could wash away the punishment. By washing himself, Midas passed to the waters of the river the power to turn everything into gold, and the sand of the Pactolus became golden.

Repenting of his greed, Midas returned to the countryside, living far from the cities.