The story of King Midas is a myth about the tragedy of avarice and narrates what happens when true happiness is not recognized. Midas was a king who wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. But he had not thought that this wish was not actually a blessing, but a awful curse. His greed makes us 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.

Midas was a king of great fortune who ruled the country of Phrygia, in Asia Minor. He had everything a king could wish for. He lived in luxury in a great castle. He shared his life of abundance with his beautiful daughter. Even though he was very rich, Midas thinks that his greatest happiness was lots and lots of gold. His avarice was such that he used to spend his days counting his golden coins! Occasionally he used to cover his whole body with gold objects, as if he wanted to bath in them. Money was his obsession.

One day, Dionyssus, the god of wine and revelry, passed through the kingdom of Midas. One of his companions, a satyr named Silenus, got delayed along the way. Silenus got tired and decided to take a nap in the rose gardens surrounding the palace of king Midas. There, he was found by the king, who recognized him instantly and invited him to spend a few days at his palace. After a few days, Midas took him to Dionyssus. The god of celebration, was very grateful to Midas for his kindness, and promised Midas to satisfy him for any wish. Midas thought for a while and then he said: “I wish that everything I touch becomes gold.” Dionyssus warned the king to think about the consequenses of his wish, but Midas was positive. Dionyssus promised the king that the next day and onwards everything he touched would turn into gold.

The next day, Midas, woke up eager to see if his wish would become true. He reached his arm touching a small table that immediately turned into gold. Midas jumped with joy! He then touched a chair, the door, his bathtub, a table and everything he see in sight, 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.

Later on, he ate a grape but it also turned into gold immediately! The same happened with a slice of bread and a glass of water. Suddenly, he started to panic. Tears filled his eyes and that moment, his beloved daughter entered the room for a hug. When Midas hugged her, she turned into a golden statue! Despaired and scared, he raised his arms and prayed to Dionyssus to take this curse away from him.

The god heard Midas and felt very sorry for him. So, he told Midas to go to river Pactolus and wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was shocked to see gold flowing away from his hands. When he turned home, everything Midas had touched had become normal again. Midas hugged his daughter in happiness and decided to share his great fortune with his people. From now on, Midas became a much better person, generous and grateful for all goods of his life. His people led a prosperous life and when he died, they all mourned for their beloved king.