The story of King Midas

In the land of ancient Greece there lived a powerful ruler named King Midas. He wore a crown of gleaming jewels, lived in a palace lined with marble, and commanded the loyalty of his people. To outsiders he seemed to possess everything a man could desire. Yet Midas was restless. No matter how much treasure filled his chests, he longed for more. Each morning, he would walk among his piles of coins, letting the gold slip through his fingers like sand, and still his heart ached for greater riches.

One summer’s day the god Dionysus visited Midas in disguise. The king welcomed him warmly and prepared a feast with music, roasted meats, and wine that flowed freely. When Dionysus revealed himself, he offered Midas a gift for his kindness. “Choose wisely,” said the god, “for what you ask will be yours.”

Without hesitation Midas answered, “I wish that everything I touch would turn to gold.” Dionysus raised his brow and urged him to reconsider, but Midas’s eyes were fixed on the gleam of treasure. The god kept his promise, and with a wave of his hand the wish was granted.

At first Midas could not contain his delight. He touched chairs, goblets, and flowers, laughing as each one transformed into brilliant gold. He dreamed of being remembered as the wealthiest king in all of Greece. But his triumph was short-lived.

When he sat down to eat, the bread in his hands turned to metal before he could taste it. The meat on his plate hardened into a golden slab, and the wine in his cup frozen solid in an instant. Hunger and thirst tormented him, yet nothing he touched could satisfy his body.

His joy turned to despair when his young daughter came running to embrace him. In a heartbeat her soft arms stiffened, her bright eyes dulled, and she stood before him as a statue of cold, glittering gold. Midas fell to his knees, overcome with grief. His treasure had become a prison, and his own hands had stolen the one thing he loved most.

Crying out, he begged Dionysus for mercy. The god heard his sorrow and told him to wash in the river Pactolus. Midas hurried to the flowing water, plunged his hands beneath the surface, and watched as the golden power drained away. When he returned home, his daughter’s colour had returned, and she ran once more into his arms. Never had Midas felt such joy, not because of wealth, but because of love.

From that day onward the king no longer measured his life by the weight of his gold. He learned to delight in simple meals, in laughter shared with his family, and in the beauty of the world that no treasure could replace. His heart, once restless, finally found peace in the understanding that true wealth lies not in riches but in love and gratitude.