King Midas, son of Gordius, is famous for two stories involving the gods Dionysus, Apollo, and Pan. In one, he chooses the golden touch as a gift, but regrets it when he can’t eat or drink. In the other, he votes for Pan in a music contest and is given donkey ears.
In Greek mythology, Midas was the king of Phrygia, son of Gordius, who tied the Gordian knot. Midas is famous for two stories, both involving the gods Dionysus, Apollo and Pan.
In one story, Silenus, a satyr follower of Dionysus, is surprised by some revelers who take him to the king. By recognizing Silenus as one of Dionysus’ trains, Midas ensures that Silenus can be reunited with the god. Pleased with his follower’s return, Dionysus allows Midas to choose a gift.
Midas chooses the golden touch, which Dionysus gives him, and Midas tries it on his way home to the palace, turning this and that to gold and marveling at the results. According to some versions, it is when Midas returns home and sits down to eat that he realizes the folly of her request. Everything he tries to eat turns golden brown and inedible long before it reaches his mouth. In other versions, Midas isn’t completely shocked by not being able to eat, but his young daughter, who runs to embrace him and turns to gold, is the key to his revelation that he has chosen very unwisely.
In any case, Midas soon comes to his senses and begs Dionysus to take the gift away from him. Dionysus cryptically tells him that to be healed he must bathe at the source of the river Pactolus, which is located near the city of Sardis. Midas follows directions and is relieved of his burdensome gift, but as a result the sands of the Pactolus reveal traces of gold. Today, defying the myth, the term “Midas touch” is used in a positive way to suggest that someone is so lucky that every plan or project he undertakes turns out to be incredibly.
In the second major story of Midas, he is a follower of the god Pan and very fond of the sound of the panpipe. Thus they are a group of nymphs, and Pan, to impress them, boasts that his music is superior to Apollo’s. Naturally a contest is held, with Midas and the nymphs as judges. Pan plays her flutes and Apollo appears and plays his lyre. The nymphs all vote for Apollo, but Midas votes for Pan. In response, Apollo gives him donkey ears.
To avoid the embarrassment of his new ears, Midas puts on a hat. But the one person she can’t hide her ears from is her barber, whom she swears to secrecy. The barber keeps the secret until he can’t take it anymore. Then he goes to a field, digs a hole in the ground and whispers in the earth: “King Midas has ears like ass!”
The barber thinks he was smart and the secret is safe. But reeds grow from that spot in the earth, and as the wind blows through them, they whisper the secret aloud.
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