What did Midas do when his wish was granted?
When Midas awoke, he was eager to see if his wish had been granted. Reaching over to his bedside table, as Midas lay his hands down, it did indeed turn into gold. Filled with excitement, he began to touch every object in his room until he was so exhausted that he had to rest.
What did Dionysus give to Midas?
He was the king of Phrygia and renowned for his wealth. According to the Greeks, his fabulous riches were the result of kindness he showed to Silenus, the old goat-like tutor of Dionysus, the god of vegetation, wine and ecstasy. So pleased was Dionysus with this behaviour that he offered Midas whatever he wished.
How did Midas get rid of his terrible burden?
However, it was impossible for Midas to hide his secret from his barber, who, of course, had to swear an oath of absolute secrecy – one which he was unable to bear. So, to get rid of his terrible burden, the barber dug a hole one night and whispered his secret into it, filling it up carefully afterward and tiptoeing away from it.
What are Midas’s Divine gifts?
Midas is also famous for another divine gift: the asses’ ears, which he got from Apollo as a reward for his resolution to decide in favor of Pan at the Apollo vs. Pan musical contest.
What did the god grant Midas?
The god gratefully offered to grant Midas any wish as a reward. Midas asked that everything he touched turn to gold. Knowing the wish to be dangerous, Dionysus asked the king if he was sure that was what he wanted. Midas assured him that it was, and the god granted the wish.
What god granted a wish to King Midas?
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.
Who was Midas What did god give to Midas?
But nobody was laughing when an angry Greek god punished King Midas by giving him the ears of a donkey! According to the legend, one day a satyr (a mythical creature who was half-man, half-goat) named Marsyas challenged the powerful god of music, Apollo, to a musical contest.
Who gave Midas his gift?
DionysosTaken to the king, the satyr entertains Midas for five days and nights with stories of exotic lands far across the seas. Whatever the version, Midas sooner or later returns Silenus to Dionysos. The grateful god then rewards Midas by granting him a single wish.
Why did Dionysus reward Midas?
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.
Why does Dionysus offer to grant Midas a wish?
Midas, like many kings, wanted to be rich – or, rather, richer. Wealthier beyond all imagining. So he asked Dionysus to grant this wish: that anything Midas touched would turn to gold. Dionysus kept his promise and granted Midas his wish, but the King would soon discover the flaw in his idea.
Why did god Bacchus offer him a gift?
Total English - ISCE - Class 9 2 God Bacchus offered him a gift because he had helped the god once. 3 He ask him to give the power to turn everything in gold he touch.
Who turned Midas into gold?
This included his daughter Marigold. Marigold did not like that the flowers in the rose garden had lost their fragrance as they were now gold. King Midas went to console his daughter by giving her a hug. Unintentionally, King Midas turned his daughter to gold and was unable to turn her back.
Why does Apollo gave Midas the golden touch?
Supposedly, until he realized its disadvantages and renounced it, Midas possessed the capacity to turn everything he touched into gold, a gift given to him by Dionysus after the king had helped the god's most beloved companion, Silenus.
What is Marigold to Midas?
In myth, Marigold (Zoe by some accounts was her name) was the daughter of Midas, a king who was given the power to turn anything into gold with his touch. Unfortunately, she too was turned to gold. Because of this, Midas despised his accursed power and sought help from the God of Wine, Dionysus.
Who was the ugliest god?
HephaestusHephaestus. Hephaestus is the son of Zeus and Hera. Sometimes it is said that Hera alone produced him and that he has no father. He is the only god to be physically ugly.
How did King Midas get his powers?
On the eleventh day, he took Silenus back to Dionysus in Lydia. Dionysus offered Midas his choice of whatever reward he wished for. Midas asked that whatever he might touch should be changed into gold. Midas rejoiced in his new power, which he hastened to put to the test.
What did Midas touch?
In Greek and Roman mythology , Midas was a king of Phrygia (pronounced FRIJ-ee-uh) fabled for having the “Midas touch”—the power to turn whatever he touched into gold.
What is the theme of Midas?
One of the main themes of the myth of King Midas is greed. Midas wishes for great riches and believes at first that he has come up with a way to achieve that goal. However, his greed ultimately causes him to lose everything of true importance. In the story, gold at first represents wealth and the favor of the gods. In the end, especially after losing his daughter, gold symbolizes the high price Midas has paid for his greed.
What does the hand of Midas mean?
The Hand of Midas appears in the Disney animated film Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1995), a sequel to the 1992 hit film Aladdin. In the movie, the hand of Midas still possesses the ability to transform anything into gold by touch. In popular speech, saying someone has “the Midas touch” means that the person is very prosperous at any endeavor he or she attempts.
Why was Midas unable to eat?
Midas Name of several historical Phrygian rulers and one legendary foolish king in classical mythology. As a reward for rendering a service to a god , King Midas asked that everything he touched should become gold . Midas found he was unable to eat or drink because his food, too, was transformed. His story was told by Ovid.
Who was the king of Phrygia?
Midas a king of Phrygia, who, according to one story, was given by Dionysus the power of turning everything he touched into gold. Unable to eat or drink, he prayed to be relieved of the gift and was instructed to wash in the River Pactolus. According to another story, he declared Pan a better flute player than Apollo, who thereupon gave him ass's ears. Midas tried to hide them but his barber whispered the secret to some reeds, which repeat it whenever they rustle in the wind.#N#the Midas touch the ability to make money out of anything one undertakes.
Why is the Pactolus River important?
The Pactolus River is a real river that was important to the people of Lydia, a kingdom that covered the entire western portion of Asia Minor (a region known as Turkey in modern times). Lydia was known as a wealthy kingdom, and much of its wealth came from the abundant gold that was found in the sands along the Pactolus. In fact, in the seventh century bce, Lydia became the first culture to mint and use coins as currency. The myth of Midas can be seen as an “origin tale” that explains why gold is found in the sands of the Pactolus. The myth allowed the ancient Lydians to link the tales of the gods to their own environment. It also reflects the importance of gold in ancient cultures, where it was used mainly to create sacred or religious objects kept by rulers.
Why Did King Midas Want the Golden Touch?
He was not a popular leader, and his behaviour and antic bemused his people. He would often make rash and stupid decisions .
What did Midas do after his golden touch?
Following his terrible experience with his golden touch, Midas began a new sort of life. He gave away much of his wealth to his people and would never desire such things in his palace. He spent much more of his time wandering the nature world, the woods, the meadows the rivers.
What Happened to King Midas Daughter?
King Midas spent the entire morning amusing himself with this new power. But by late morning he was growing hungry. He called his servants to bring him some food. They brought in some grapes and a few sticks of bread.
Why did Apollo give Midas a donkey's ear?
Apollo left, very much angered by Midas. But before he left, he gave Midas a pair of donkey’s ears as punishment. The King was so embarrassed by his donkey ears that he would never be seen without a hat. The only time he took the hat off was when he went to visit his barbers.
What did Dionysus tell Midas?
Dionysus took pity on he poor king. He told Midas that he would have to travel to the river Pactolus and to wash his hand in the water of the river. King Midas rushed to the river and did as the god told him. Miraculously, his power washes away into the river.
What did Midas wish for when he touched the Satyr?
When Midas returned the satyr to Dionysus, Dionysus decided to reward Midas with one wish. Midas wished for the power to turn anything he touched to gold. The story and background of this myth is fascinating, there are some interesting consequences. So, let’s dive in further.
What is the story of King Midas?
So there you have the story of King Midas. Both the tale of his golden touch and the story about get donkey ears are both lighthearted cautionary tales. The stories teach us to both to be careful what you wish for, and to be careful who you offend.
What did Dionysus want from Midas?
He asked Midas how he wished to be rewarded. Midas answered, without thinking, that he wanted everything he touched to turn to gold. His wish was granted.
What was Midas famous for?
Midas was famous for his rose gardens, and one day the satyr Silenus left a crowd of worshippers of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility, as they went out of Thrace toward Boeotia. Silenus, who was drunk, found Midas’ rose garden and fell asleep among the flowers.
What did Silenus tell Midas?
Silenus told Midas amazing tales of a world far away where the people , called the Hyperboreans, were happy, gigantic and long lived. They also had an enviable legal system. Silenus told tales of a whirlpool that no sailor could go past, and the fruit trees that grew on the bank nearby.
What caused Midas to weep and pine away?
One tree bore fruit that caused the eater to weep and pine away, while the other restored youth even to the very old. Indeed, they aged backwards to the point where they disappeared altogether. Midas was regaled by the satyr’s tall tales for five days and nights, then brought him back to Dionysus.
Where did Midas wash himself?
Dionysus, who was amused by Midas’ predicament, told him to go down to the source of the river Pactolus, which was near Mount Tmolus, and wash himself in the waters. Midas obeyed, washed himself in the river and was freed from his gift.
Who was Midas the King?
Midas was a king who reigned in Macedonian Bromium in what is now modern day Turkey. The people he ruled over were called the Brigians or the Moschians. He was the son of the goddess Ida and an unnamed satyr and loved pleasure and wealth. When he was a baby, ants would climb up the side of his cradle and place grains of wheat between his lips as he ...
Who judged Apollo's donkey's ears?
The contest was judged by Tmolus , the mountain god. Tmolus ultimately awarded the prize to Apollo. Midas disagreed with the verdict and Apollo punished him by causing him to grow donkey’s ears. For a while, Midas managed to keep the ears hidden under his Phrygian cap.
What did Midas do to make his wish become true?
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.
Who promised Midas to satisfy his wish?
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.
What happened to Midas when he turned home?
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.
What did Midas do when he hugged his daughter?
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.
What does Midas touch mean?
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.
What was Dionyssus' obsession with money?
Money was his obsession. One day, Dionyssus, the god of wine and revelry , passed through the kingdom of Midas.
Where did Midas go to see gold?
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.
Who was Midas in Greek Mythology?
Midas, in Greek mythology, was said to be the son of Gordius and Cybele or to have been adopted by Gordius. He was the king of Phrygia and renowned for his wealth. According to the Greeks, his fabulous riches were the result of kindness he showed to Silenus, the old goat-like tutor of Dionysus, the god of vegetation, wine and ecstasy.
Who asked Midas to reconsider his wish?
Dionysus urged the king to reconsider his wish, but Midas was adamant that that is what he wanted. Unable to dissuade the King from his wish, Dionysus asked Midas to heed his warning and granted the wish the following day.
What did Silenus tell the king about what happened to him?
Once reunited, Dionysus was extremely grateful to King Midas for the kindness he had shown. He told the king that as a reward, he would grant him one wish.
What did Midas smell when he sat down for breakfast?
As Midas sat down for breakfast, he leant over to smell a rose, but as he touched it, the fragrance is gone. He was disappointed that he would never again enjoy the fragrance of his garden without touching his flowers.
What did Midas' daughter do to her father?
When Midas’ daughter entered the room, she ran over to hug her father, and as she did, tears filled his eyes as he had just turned his daughter into a solid gold statue. Distraught at what he had just done, Midas began to pray to Dionysus to end this curse.
Where did Midas go to get his power back?
The End of the Golden Touch. Dionysus told Midas to go to the River Pactolus, where everything he placed in the river would revert to normal. Midas washed his hands in the river and felt his newfound power disappeared, leaving a stream of shimmering gold behind him. When he returned home, everything that was once gold had returned to normal.
What was Midas's kingdom?
Midas ruled over the region known as Phrygia, part of what we call today modern-day Turkey. As you would expect from a king, he lived a life of luxury and abundance in his enormous castle with his only daughter. But despite how rich Midas was, nothing bought him as much joy as accumulating gold.
What is the myth of Midas?
And the myth of Midas may have been a similar origin-myth, designed to explain the richness of the waters of the River Pactolus. Legend has it that the waters of the river were filled with grains of gold after Midas dunked himself in it. Indeed, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus claimed that the fragments of gold found in the sediments in the river were the source of the wealth of King Croesus, another ancient king famous for his obscene wealth. It’d be like someone inventing a Midas story around the Yukon, or California in the mid-nineteenth century. We humans always want to explain things, to come up with appealing reasons for how things came to be the way they are.
What is the curious thing about Midas?
But the curious thing about Midas is that this story is not the only one with which his name is associated.
What did Midas touch to turn gold?
So he asked Dionysus to grant this wish: that anything Midas touched would turn to gold. Dionysus kept his promise and granted Midas his wish, but the King would soon discover the flaw in his idea. Whenever he touched food to eat it, it immediately turned to gold, becoming inedible. Even the wine, as Midas raised it to his lips, turned to gold.
What did Dionysus wish Midas?
Wealthier beyond all imagining. So he asked Dionysus to grant this wish: that anything Midas touched would turn to gold. Dionysus kept his promise ...
What was impossible to Midas?
Food, wine, the touch of a loved one: all became impossible to Midas once his avaricious wish was granted. He soon realised the error of his ways, and begged to purify and cleanse himself (quite literally, in the river) of his greed. But the curious thing about Midas is that this story is not the only one with which his name is associated.
What is Midas known for?
Midas is known for two things: being given the ears of an ass, and turning everything he touched into gold. The latter of these was his reward from Dionysus, although he soon discovered that his gift was a bane rather than a blessing, and that he couldn’t even do simple things like take a drink without the water turning into gold.
Where did Midas go to wash?
However, Dionysus told Midas to go and wash in the spring at the source of the river Pactolus. (This is a real river near the Aegean coast of Turkey, now named Sart Çayı.)
Character Overview
Midas in Context
- The Pactolus River is a real river that was important to the people of Lydia, a kingdom that covered the entire western portion of Asia Minor(a region known as Turkey in modern times). Lydia was known as a wealthy kingdom, and much of its wealth came from the abundant gold that was found in the sands along the Pactolus. In fact, in the seventh century bce, Lydia became th…
Key Themes and Symbols
- One of the main themes of the myth of King Midas is greed. Midas wishes for great riches and believes at first that he has come up with a way to achieve that goal. However, his greed ultimately causes him to lose everything of true importance. In the story, gold at first represents wealth and the favor of the gods. In the end, especially after losing his daughter, gold symbolize…
Midas in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life
- The myth of Midas has appeared in countless versions over the years. It remains especially popular in collections of children's stories. The Hand of Midas appears in the Disney animated film Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1995), a sequel to the 1992 hit film Aladdin.In the movie, the hand of Midas still possesses the ability to transform anything into gold by touch. In popular spe…
Read, Write, Think, Discuss
- In the twenty-first century, there are many figures in the business and entertainment industry such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates and talk-show host Oprah Winfreywho have made fortunes worth millions and even billions of dollars. Do you think there is such a thing as having too much money? What might be some of the effects—social, emotional, and psychological—of being abl…