The Midas Touch

                                                               "The Midas Touch"

         King Midas knew that Seilenus was a companion of Dionysus, so King

King Midas finding out his magical "touch".

Midas royally entertained Seilenus for 10 days and nights. Seilenus was old and drunk but King Midas was aware of Dionysus' power, he had learned the rites of loud-roaring Dionysus from the great minstrel Orpheus. Dionysus had cultivated the vineyards on Mount Tmolus, which grew near the Pactolus River. After entertaining him for 10 days and nights, King Midas reunited Seilenus with Dionysus. Dionysus was so happy to be reunited with his companion that he told King Midas that he would grant one wish for him, so King Midas asked for the power to turn everything he touches into gold. So Dionysus granted King Midas his wish as he promised and King Midas started trying out his new power and was full of joy as everything he picked up turned to gold. Being overwhelmed by the fact that his power was so amazing he went home to have his servants make him a feast. When the feast came to Midas, he tried to drink his water, which turned into a gold glass with gold inside of it, he then touched the food and it also turned to gold. Midas now had realized that the power he wanted was a curse if anything, and wanted to get rid of it. He went to the almighty Bacchus and asked him what he should do to get this curse off of him so he wouldn't die of starvation. Bacchus then told him to wash his hands off in the Pactolus River. Midas travelled to said river and dipped his hands into the river so he could finally eat something. When he put his hands into the river, The power flowed through the river and the sands turned to gold, explaining why the Pactolus river was so rich in gold. Midas, after having this power hated riches and wealth, so he moved to the countryside with Pan, and worshiped Pan the god of the fields and satyr. Pan wanted to compare his music with that of Apollo, so he challenged him to a competition of skill. So, then Pan blew on his pipes as Midas followed in his steps. Midas was shocked at the beautiful music Pan played. Then Apollo plucked his Lyre and the gods almost immediately awarded Apollo with the victory. Midas disagreed with this and thought Pan should be the victor. Apollo couldn't deal with Midas' attitude so he turned his ears into a donkeys ears, because his taste in music was bad. Midas hated his misfortune and always hid his ears, except from his barber because he had to see them. Midas always wore a hat around to prevent the others from seeing. The barber could not hold his secret though, so he dug a hole and whispered into it the Midas had donkey ears. Later a bed of reeds grew from that spot, whispering that Midas had donkey ears every time the wind blew. This was the end of the chapter on King Midas.