The Midas Touch

In Greek Mythology, Silenus, was the teacher and the companion of Dionysus (Dionysus was also known as Bacchus in Roman Mythology). Bacchus was considered to be the God of grape harvest, wine and fertility.

Once Silenus went missing and was not to be seen at all.

Bacchus was worried. He was looking around, waiting for Silenus. But Silenus was nowhere to be found.

******

The old man was walking tiredly half due to his old age and half because he was drunk. He was barely able to focus on anything, when he collapsed on the fields that he was walking through.

The old man did not know it but he had reached the kingdom of Phrygia. The peasants working in the fields were shocked to the old man. The man was old, but he exuded a kind of power.

Not knowing what to do, the peasants took the man to their king – Midas.

Midas watched the old man and realized that whoever the man was he was powerful man.

He turned to his people. “We have a distinguished guest with us. Let us have a grand festival for his honour.”

And so there was a lavish party in the kingdom of Phrygia. The old man was an excellent story teller and for the ten days that the party went on, the old man told the people of Phrygia many wonderful stories.

As the man spoke, Midas realized that he had been right in treating the man well. He now knew who the man was.

On the eleventh day, Midas took the man to Lydia with great honours.

There Midas found Bacchus who was worried.

“My Lord!” Midas said bowing low and pointing behind him. “I have brought Silenus with me.”

Bacchus was overjoyed as he saw Silenus. He embraced Silenus tightly and realized that Midas had treated his really well. After Silenus had told Bacchus what had happened, Bacchus happily turned to Midas. “You have done me a great favour. Ask for anything that you wish for.”

Midas was overjoyed. “I wish that anything I touch should change into gold,” he said immediately before the God could change his mind.

There was an extra silence on the side of the God as Midas watched the God with worried eyes.

“Out of so many things that you could have asked, you want this?” the God asked looking half sorry and half incredulously.

Midas was surprised. “Why, my Lord?” he asked surprised.

“Is that what you want?” Bacchus repeated, making no move to elaborate his sentence.

“Yes,” Midas said frowning, because he did not understand the import of the question.

“Your wish has been granted,” Bacchus said listlessly.

*********

Midas watched his hands as his eyes sparkled with happiness as he walked back to his kingdom. He could scarcely believe that the God had said yes and he could not wait to try out his gift.

On a sudden impulse, Midas pulled down the twig of a tree. He was shocked as he saw the entire branch became gold.

Letting out a shout of joy, Midas just could not describe his happiness. With trembling hands he picked up the stone from the ground. The stone turned to gold. The wheat corns, apples, the door knobs. Midas touched them all.

Midas saw the flowing water and watched with almost greedy eyes. Midas touched it. There were no words to describe Midas's happiness as the water flowed like it was molten gold.

“I want to eat,” Midas said as he turned curtly to his servant, barely able to take his eyes off the gold in front of him.

The meal was served and it was delicious to look at and Midas wanted nothing more than to have his full as he was living his life's dream. And that was when the man was in for a shock. The food that he touched all turned to gold. He picked up the food and was about to eat it when his teeth almost broke as it bit into the hard gold. Hastily Midas picked up the goblet of water. Midas could not drink that too, as it became molten gold.

********

Midas was walking across the road, staggering out of sheer exhaustion. To any eye it was obvious that Midas was rich, but his eyes conveyed great pain. The man picked up the fruit from the tree ravenously and was dejected as it turned into gold. Angrily he threw it away.

He hated this so much. This cursed gold. Because of which, he had not eaten or drank anything for days.

He sobbed in exhaustion and finally looked in the heavens. “I made a mistake. Please I do not wish the gift. Take it back,” he shouted.

*********

Bacchus appeared almost immediately before him looking sadly at Midas.

“This is no gift. Please take it back,” Midas almost cried.

Bacchus nodded his head. “Go to the city of Sardis, which is the capital of Lydia. There would will find the river Pactolus. The river flows from a huge mountain onto a stream. You will find a spring. Dip yourself in the spring and this....gift...” Bacchus said with a slight smile. “...would go away.”

Midas was thrilled as he went to Sardis.

He found the spring and as he touched the spring, he could find a sudden swirling in his hands. He felt something leave his body as it joined the powerful waters of the stream. (It is believed that this is the reason that the river Pactolus is such a rich source of gold.)

The first thing that Midas did was pick up some food and almost sobbed in relief as the foods remained as it was.

Now sick and tired of his wealth and riches, Midas gave it all up and became a follower of Pan, the God of fields and satyrs.