Midas Greek name: Midas Roman name: Midas Relationships:

1. Midas Greek name: MidasRoman name: Midas Relationships: Parents- Gordias and Kybele. Children Ankhyros and Lithyerses . Original Source of Myth: • Ovid, Metamorphoses Influence on latter artists/writers/composers: “The Midas Touch” is still referred to in literature today. Summary of Myth King Midas was kind and gentle and was a fair King. One day while he was walking in his garden he found an elderly satyr asleep in his flower bed. Instead of punishing him he let the old man go freely. When the God Dionysus became aware of the King’s kind act, he award Midas by granting him one wish. The King thought to himself for a moment before declaring t hat he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. When he approached the flowers in his garden and touched them, they became rigid , as they were turned into gold. Soon the king became famished because when he attempted to eat, all the food that he touched turned into gold. Even his daughter was turned to gold . King Midas released that eventually his whole kingdom would be gold if he did not do something. He asked the God Dionysus to reverse the wish and take away his golden touch . The god took pity on him and agreed .Midas thus became poor in wealthy but rich in heart now that he could have the things back that really count.