Midas

The infamous king of Phrygia in Asia Minor.

Midas was the son of Gordius (creator of the Gordian Knot), the father of Gordias and the grandfather of Adrastus.

While Midas was entertaining the companion of Dionysus, Silenus, he was granted a wish; Midas foolishly wished that everything he touched would be turned to gold; when Midas found that his food was also turned to gold, he renounced the wish and by washing his hands in the river Paktolus (Pactolus) he lost the golden touch; the river Paktolus has had golden sand ever since.

Midas also served as the judge of a musical contest in which Apollon was a contestant; Midas did not give Apollon the first prize and was punished by having his ears changed into those of an ass; Midas concealed the disgraceful ears from everyone except his barber who was sworn to secrecy; the barber, of course, could not keep such a secret so he dug a hole in the ground and whispered the secret into the hole; the reeds that grew from that hole speak the secret of Midas’ ears whenever the wind blows.