Greek Mythology : King Midas and the Golden Touch!

Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, wanted to reward King Midas for his kind hospitality towards the satyr Silenus (Dionysus’s friend).

“Tell me, Midas, what do you wish for?” Dionysus asked.
“I wish that everything I touch turns to gold!” King Midas said, dreaming of how rich this would make him!
“That is a terrible idea! Can’t you imagine how horribly it could go wrong?” Dionysus warned.
In his foolishness and greed, Midas was adamant.
“Very well, then. Everything you touch shall turn to gold.” Dionysus granted.

King Midas could hardly contain his excitement. He touched a lamp, a table, a chair and the bathtub and rejoiced as they all turned to gold! He walked through his kingdom, granting items of gold.

Alas, the joy was short-lived. When Midas eventually tired and sat down to eat, he reached for a grape and it too turned to gold! Midas began to panic. Would he ever eat or drink again?

Midas felt it couldn’t possibly get any worse. However, when Midas’s daughter came up to greet him, she too turned to gold! Midas was shocked and distraught. He now hated this gift he had desired. It was a nightmare.

Midas went back to Dionysus and begged him to reverse the spell. Dionysus glanced knowingly, “Have you learnt your lesson about things you wish for?” Dionysus advised him to bathe in the River Pactolus, to wash away the powers. Even now, the soil next to this river glistens like gold! As for King Midas, he was overjoyed to have his daughter back!