Midas

Midas (mī`dəs), in Greek mythology, king of Phrygia. Because he befriended Silenus, the oldest of the satyrs, Dionysus granted him the power to turn everything into gold by touch. But when even the food that he touched turned to gold, Midas begged to be relieved of his gift. Dionysus allowed him to wash away his power in the Pactolus River, which afterward had gold-bearing sands. In another legend Midas was given ass's ears by Apollo for preferring, in a contest, the music of Pan (in another account Marsyas) to that of Apollo. Midas preserved his shame from all but his barber, who, wishing to tell it, whispered it into a hole in the ground. The reeds that grew out of that hole, however, murmured the secret whenever the wind blew through them. There was also a historical king of Phrygia named Midas in the 8th cent. B.C.

---

Midas

In Greek and Roman legend, a king of Phrygia. Midas captured the satyr Silenus but treated him kindly, and as a reward was granted a wish by Dionysus. He asked that everything he touched turn to gold; but after turning his daughter to gold when she embraced him, he asked to be released from his wish. In another legend Midas was invited to judge a music contest between Apollo and the satyr Marsyas. When Midas decided against Apollo, Apollo punished him by giving him donkey's ears. See also satyr and silenus.

---

Midas

for judging Pan winner of flute contest, his ears are changed to ass’s ears. [Gk. Myth.: Leach, 83]

See : Ass

---

Midas

greedy king whose touch turned everything to gold. [Classical Myth.: Bulfinch, 42–44]

See : Greed

---

Midas

everything he touched turned to gold. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 167]

See : Transformation

---

Midas

Phrygian king; whatever he touched became gold. [Gk. and Rom. Myth.: Wheeler, 24]

See : Wealth

---

1.		MIDAS - A digital simulation language. [Sammet 1969, p.627].
2.		Midas - A Motif-based toolkit for interactive data analysis by T. Johnson, SLAC. The basis for the Midas-WWW browser.