In Greek mythology, Midas (Ancient Greek: Μίδας), is a mythological figure originating from Ancient Greece though he was probably based on a real person or people named Midas. Scholars speculate that King Midas of Phrygia was likely based on the historical figures of the Lydian kings, Gyges and Alyattes.
Mostly remembered for his Midas' Touch, which was the ability to turn anything he touched into gold. His famed ability was granted to him, by the god Dionysus. He ruled over The Phrygian city: Midaeum which was presumably named after him, and this is probably also the Midas that according to Pausanias founded Ancyra.[1]
Mythology[]
Early Life and Family[]
Some accounts place the youth of Midas in Macedonian Bermion or Thracian Mygdonia, or stated that Midas and his father came from somewhere in Europe and moved to Phrygia. Midas was also said to have a rose garden at Mt. Bermion where "roses grow of themselves, each bearing sixty blossoms and of surpassing fragrance"[2] and he is said to have first discovered black and white lead. [3] Roman mythographers asserted that his tutor in music was Orpheus.
According to Herodotus[4] and Arrian,[5] Gordias was the father of Midas, with Hyginus stating that Cybele is Midas' mother[3] although in Arrian's account his mother was the Telmissian maiden that Gordias met to consult about his omen.
Aristotle and Julius Pollux said that Midas' wife is said to be Hermodike II the daughter of Agamemnon of Cyme, and she invented the minted coin. Although scholars speculate that they were referring to Alyattes as Midas in this instance. Otherwise he consorted with Cybele.
His children whose mother is neither mentioned are Lityerses[6] and Anchurus[7]. Midas' daughter has no mythological or historical basis as the American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne invented a daughter named Marigold as a daughter of Midas in his 1852 work A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys, Rick Riordan also provide Midas a daughter named Zoe.
During the reign of Midas the earth cracked opened and destroyed the town of Celaenae in Phyrgia. Midas consulted the oracle about how the opening might be closed and he was commanded to throw into it the most precious thing he possessed. He accordingly threw into it a great quantity of gold and silver, but when the chasm still did not close, his son Anchurus, thinking that life was the most precious of all things, mounted his horse and leapt into the chasm, which closed immediately.
Golden Touch[]
One day, as Ovid relates in Metamorphoses Book XI, Dionysus found that his old schoolmaster and foster father, the satyr Silenus, was missing. The old satyr had been drinking wine and wandered away drunk, to be found by some Phrygian peasants who carried him to their king, Midas (alternatively, Silenus passed out in Midas' rose garden). Midas recognized him and treated him hospitably, entertaining him for ten days and nights with politeness, while Silenus delighted Midas and his friends with stories and songs. 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. He touched an oak twig and a stone; both turned to gold. Overjoyed, as soon as he got home, he touched every rose in the rose garden, and all became gold. He ordered the servants to set a feast on the table. Upon discovering how even the food and drink turned into gold in his hands, he regretted his wish and cursed it.
Now, Midas hated the gift he had coveted. He prayed to Dionysus, begging to be delivered from starvation. Dionysus heard his prayer, and consented; telling Midas to wash in the river Pactolus. Then, whatever he put into the water would be reversed of the touch. Midas did so, and when he touched the waters, the power flowed into the river, and the river sands turned into gold. This explained why the river Pactolus was so rich in gold and electrum, and the wealth of the dynasty of Alyattes of Lydia claiming Midas as its forefather no doubt the impetus for this origin myth.
However, according to Aristotle, legend held that Midas eventually died of starvation as a result of his "vain prayer" for the gold touch, the curse never being lifted.
Ass' Ears[]
Midas, now hating wealth and splendor, moved to the country and became a worshipper of Pan, the god of the fields and satyrs. Once, Pan had the audacity to compare his music with that of Apollo, and challenged Apollo to a trial of skill. Tmolus, the mountain-god, was chosen as umpire. Pan blew on his pipes and, with his rustic melody, gave great satisfaction to himself and his faithful follower, Midas, who happened to be present. Then Apollo struck the strings of his lyre. Tmolus at once awarded the victory to Apollo, and all but one agreed with the judgment.
Midas dissented, and questioned the justice of the award. Apollo would not suffer such a depraved pair of ears any longer, and said to Midas "Thou must have ears of an ass!", which caused Midas's ears to become those of a donkey.
Midas was mortified at this mishap. He attempted to hide his misfortune under an ample turban or headdress, but his barber of course knew the secret, so was told not to mention it. However, the barber could not keep the secret. He went out into a meadow, dug a hole in the ground, whispered the story into it, then covered the hole up. A thick bed of reeds later sprang up from the covered up hole, and began whispering the story, saying "King Midas has an ass's ears". These reeds in turn whispered the secret to all creatures who passed. Soon the birds learned the news and brought it to Melampus. Melampus told all his friends and soon the entire kingdom knew about the former king's miserable secret.
Some sources, such as Plutarch, say that Midas committed suicide by drinking bull's blood, a powdered crystal substance which was used in the ancient world as pigment for red paint, but very toxic due to its high level of arsenic.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126:book=1:chapter=14&highlight=midas
- ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D8%3Achapter%3D138%3Asection%3D2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://topostext.org/work/206#274
- ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126:book=1:chapter=14&highlight=gordias
- ↑ https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46976/46976-h/46976-h.htm#Page_82
- ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0003%3Abook%3D11%3Achapter%3D10
- ↑ https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0219%3Asection%3D5