After some time PAN came to be such a wonderful piper with his syrinx (for so he named his flute) that he challenged the great APOLLO to make better music, if he could. Now the sun-god was also the greatest of divine musicians, and he resolved to punish the vanity of the country-god, and therefore he consented to the test.
For a judge they chose the mountain named Tmolus, because no one is so old and wise as the hills. And since Tmolus could not leave his home, to him went Pan and Apollo, each with his own followers, oreads and dryads, fauns, satyrs, and centaurs.
Among the worshippers of Pan was a certain MIDAS, who had a strange story. He was once a king of great wealth who had chanced to befriend DIONYSUS, the god of the vine and wine, and when he was asked to choose some good gift in return for a good he did, he prayed that everything he touched might be turned into gold. Dionysus smiled a little when he heard this foolish prayer, but he granted it. Within two days King Midas learned the secret of that smile and begged the god to take away the gift that was a curse.
He had touched everything that belonged to him, and little joy did he have of his possessions! His palace was as yellow a home as a dandelion to a bee, but not half so sweet. Row upon row of stiff golden trees stood in his garden; they no longer knew a breeze when they heard it. When he sat down to eat, his feast turned to inedible treasure. The worst and most terrible thing of all was when his loving little daughter ran into the room and threw her arms joyfully around her father. She instantly turned into a golden statue and the king's heart broke. He had finally learned that a king may lose all to gold. He may starve. He may lose even love and warmth and all joy, and he came to see that gold cannot replace the live, warm gifts of the Earth. Kindly Dionysus took back the charm, but from that day King Midas so hated gold that he chose to live far from luxury, among the woods and fields. Even here he was not to go free from misadventure. The next short myth (h-2) will tell you the rest of his story -- and more. :) *********
DIONYSUS was the god of wine, or more generally the godof inspiration and ecstasy. He was identified by the Romans with their god BACCHUS. In contrast to the rational APOLLO he may be said to represent the irrational impulses in human nature. His cult was popular. We might say that it still is! He is often shown holding a thyrsus staff, as do his followers. Now whatever can a thyrsus staff be? I don't know yet.
APPOLO: was the son of Zeus and Leto and brother of Artemis. He was the most Greek of gods and represented the ideal type of manly beauty. His special care was for music, prophecy, medicine, archery, and the tending of flocks and herds.
MIDAS: was a legendary Phrygian king to whom, according to one story, Dionysus, in acknowledgement of his kindly treatment of SILENUS gave the power of turning everything he touched into gold.
