“The atonement

The god heard Midas and felt sorry for him. He told Midas to go to river Pactolus and wash his hands. Midas did so: he ran to the river and was astonished to see gold flowing from his hands. The ancient Greeks said they had found gold on the banks of the river Pactolus. When he turned home, everything Midas had touched had become normal again.



Midas hugged his daughter in full happiness and decided to share his great fortune with his people. From now on, Midas became a better person, generous and grateful for all goods of his life. His people led a prosperous life and when he died, they all mourned for their beloved king.”



Of course, that’s just the kindest version. Another one was that Midas was later cursed a second time, for something I forget about, with “the ears of an ass” or donkey. If he cut them off, they would simply grow back. So he hid them under his crown and with a big hairdo. Only his barber new about the curse, and if he dared to speak of it, would be put to death.

But the barber just HAD to say it aloud SOMEWHERE, so he dug a hole, stuck his head into it, and yelled “Midas has the ears of an ass!”

He felt satisfied and did not speak of it again.

However, the spirit of the grass had heard it and whispered it to the spirt of the wind, that eventually whispered the secret to various humans, who spread the rumor. Finally, a mob gathered in his court, demanding Midas show them his ears.

He had his barber executed than committed suicide.