King Midas’s Gold Desire Became A Nightmare

A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com – Midas was king of the city of Pessinus in the country of Phrygia, and is remembered in Greek mythology for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold.

King Midas with his daughter, from A Wonder Book for Boys and Girls by Nathaniel Hawthorne Walter Crane – Library of Congress – Public Domain

He had large estates and a grand, marvelous palace with a beautiful rose garden. In this garden, Dionysus, the god of wine, found Silenus, his good friend, teacher, and foster father, drunk. Silenus was the oldest satyr known as the god of the forest, drunkenness, and winemaking in Greek mythology.

Dionysus carried his friend to Midas’ palace, where the king received him well. At first, Silenus was expected to stay only for a few hours, but he remained in the palace for a whole week, entertaining Midas and his friends with songs and stories.

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