King Midas
The King with The Golden Touch
Background Information
Among Greek Mythology, King Midas is one of the most known. He is most known King Midas was a king who ruled the country of Phrygia, located in Asia Minor. He had great wealth. He was known for his wisdom and his greed. He was one of the most known kings of his time, a lover of the Arts and Culture, creator of a beautiful rose garden, but Midas was very greedy. He was always trying to gain more money and gold.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's Version of the Midas Myth
Midas's daughter turned into gold due to being touched by Midas's golden touch. Illustrated by Walter Crane.
Midas Counting Gold
This was something King Midas did daily for long periods of time.
Country of Phrygia
This is the kingdom, which King Midas ruled.
The Myth of King Midas and The Golden Touch
The Wish
King Midas had an abundance of wealth. Midas thought his greatest happiness came from gold. He would often spend his days counting his gold. Money was everything to him. According to the myth, the god of wine and revelry, Dionysus, was celebrating in Phrygia with a group of Satyrs and other creatures. Slienus, one of the Satyrs, took a nap in Midas' rose garden. Slienus was found by King Midas. King Midas recognized the Satyr and invited him to stay in the palace for a few days. King Midas took Slienus back to Dionysus, who was pleased with King Midas's kindness. Dionysus promised King Midas that he would satisfy any wish Midas wanted. King Midas wished that everything he would touch would turn to gold. Dionysus warned Midas about his wish, but Midas insisted that this was the wish he wanted. Dionysus granted King Midas with the infamous Golden Touch.
Dionysus Granting Midas's Wish
Dionysus granted Midas's wish, but warned him about the wish. Everything that Midas touch will turn to gold.
The Golden Touch
The staircase turns to gold as Midas touches the railing.
The Garden
As King Midas is trying to smell the flowers, it turns to gold as he holds it.
The Curse
The next day, King Midas was overjoyed to see his wish come true. Anything that Midas touch would turn to gold. He turned his whole entire palace into gold. When he tried to smell a rose, it turned to gold as he tried to touch it. He soon realized that he couldn't eat or drink. When his daughter appeared, he tried to hug her, but she turned into a golden statue.
King Midas embraces his daughther
Midas hugs his daughter, but forgot about what he has wished for. His daughter begins to turn to gold.
King Midas's daughter turns to gold
Midas cries over what he had done.
The Cure
Dionysus pitied Midas and told him a way he could fix what he had done.
The Cure
King Midas prayed to Dionysus to take this curse away from him and turned his daughter back. Dionysus felt bad for Midas and told him to go to the river, Pactolus, to wash his hands. Midas did so, and gold was flowing from his hands. The ancient Greeks claimed they had found gold on the banks of the river. When he returned home, everything Midas had turned to gold had returned to normal. Afterwards, King Midas became a better person and shared all his goods with his people. He was generous and grateful. His people led a prosperous life.
King Midas and the Golden Touch, Rabbit Ears Collection
The Story Of King Midas [Infographic]
Sources
Work Cited Page
Craft, Charlotte, and Kinuko Craft. King Midas and the Golden Touch. New York: Morrow Junior, 1999. Print.
"Myth of King Midas and the Gold." Greek Myths Greek Mythology. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2016.