GREEK MYTHOSThe Godsunder Codex

MIDAS (king with the golden touch)

Figure of myth · king with the power to turn whatever he touches to gold

Parents: person, Seul
Consorts: Hermodike II
Children: Lityerses, Aegisteas, Anchurus
Haunts and cult places: Pactolus
In the sources: 27 ancient passages

Midas, son of Gordias, ruled the Phrygian region where the Pactolus river flowed.^1,2,3,4,5,6 His lineage also connects him to the person Seul, while his children included horse/">Xanthus, Gorgus, Lityerses, Aegisteas, and Anchurus.^7,5 The king possessed ears drawn out to great length, filled with grey hairs, and unsteady at the lower part.⁸ During his period of indulgence, he wore a purple robe and resided in a setting characterized by effeminacy and luxury.⁹

Midas’s wealth was said to have come from mines near Mount Bermium, and he founded the Phrygian city of Ancyra in former times.^10,11 The king also possessed an anchor kept in the sanctuary of Zeus and a ring that granted invisibility when its collet was turned inward.^11,12 Ancient dwellings attributed to him stood on the banks of the river Sangarius near the mountain Dindymus, though these villages did not retain the physical traces of cities.¹³

Orpheus had previously entrusted the mysteries of Dionysus to Midas, who later mixed wine with spring water to capture Silenus.^6,14,11 Phrygian rustics captured Silenus and brought him to Midas, who used water from a spring named after him to mix with wine.^6,11 Midas hosted a ten-day festival to honor the arrival of Silenus.⁶ He was present by chance while Tmolus played his reeds and was delighted by the uncouth music, becoming the only person who called the judgment of Tmolus unjust.⁸ Apollo punished Midas for his stupid ears, stretching them to a great length.⁸

Midas participated in building a costly temple for Cybele in Pisinus and establishing honours out of his devotion to beauty.¹ He brought roses from the Odonian hills of Thrace to the Emathian lands after leaving the realms of Asia, where he cultivated roses with sixty petals.¹⁵ The king is credited with inventing the transverse flute and worked at the loom in the company of women.^16,9 A noble Lydian man rose up against Midas’s government, and according to report, the king died after drinking bull's blood.^9,17

Midas is buried in a mournful tomb where a bronze figure of a maiden bewailing his death remains.^18,19,7 In the underworld, he is located among other ancient kings and attempts to mourn his past wealth and luxury.^20,21 He complains to Hades about the Cynic Menippus disturbing their community, and is mocked by Menippus for his previous life of luxury.²⁰ A location named the garden of Midas is situated in Macedonia, where the sons of Temenus settled, and he was a common name used for Phrygian slaves in Attica.^4,22