Midas The expression, “the Midas touch,” comes from the myth of Midas. It means that a person is successful at anything they try. Read the myth below to better understand this expression. Clipart: Phillip Martin The Myth of Midas Midas was a king of Phrygia, which is now part of Turkey. He loved life’s pleasures. He spent much of his time admiring the many bounties of his rich kingdom, especially his beautiful roses. One day, some of his farmhands brought him a satyr. A satyr is a creature made of part man and part goat. They had caught this creature napping in the vineyard. He was still groggy and much the worse for wear. He had been thoroughly tied when captured so he wouldn’t escape. Midas immediately recognized him. It was Silenus. He was the right-hand satyr to the god Dionysus. So, he ordered him to be set free. Silenus was grateful to the king for treating him with dignity, and so was Dionysus. The god was so pleased that he offered to grant whatever Midas should wish for. Dionysus warned the king that the wish would ultimately cause him sorrow. But Midas insisted on the wish. And so it was. Midas rushed back home to try it out. Tentatively at first, he laid a trembling fingertip upon a bowl of fruit and then a stool. And when each of these had been turned into purest gold, the king was delighted. King Midas touched the beautiful flowers as they turned toward the sun for light. Suddenly, they stood rigid and gold. Statues in the garden were transformed into gleaming gold figures. Even the rocks in the garden turned to gold as King Midas touched them. "Just look at this!" he crowed, turning his chariot into a glittering mass of priceless-though-worthless transportation. He couldn’t wait to show his young daughter. "Look what I can do!" he cried. He took her by the hand to lead her into the garden to demonstrate his new power. King Midas decided to hold a banquet to celebrate his new prosperous power. As he picked up his food to eat it, the food turned to gold. When he tried to quench his thirst, his drink turned to liquid gold. He called for his daughter to comfort him, but when he reached for her, she turned hard and fast to gold. The king grew hungry and thin. Eventually the king’s bed, clothes, friends, and the whole palace were gold. King Midas begged Dionysus to turn everything back to the way it had been and take back his golden touch. Dionysus instructed the king to wash his hands in the river to be rid of this terrible power. The king did as he was told, giving his gift to the river. Instantly, King Midas was poorer than he had been, but richer, he felt, in the things that really count. For years to come, shimmering deposits of gold could be found in that river. !"#$%&"'()*+'!"#$%&"'()*+,'-./0'1."#2'#/"'%3&'4*5"&/'6*783'#/"'-./0'1."#2'.