Editing Dionysus (section)

====Midas' golden touch====
[[File:Titian Bacchus and Ariadne.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Bacchus and Ariadne]]'' by [[Titian]], at the [[National Gallery (London)|National Gallery]] in London]]
Dionysus discovered that his old school master and foster father, [[Silenus]], had gone missing. The old man had wandered away drunk, and was found by some peasants who carried him to their king [[Midas]] (alternatively, he passed out in Midas' rose garden). The king recognized him hospitably, feasting him for ten days and nights while Silenus entertained with stories and songs. On the eleventh day, Midas brought Silenus back to Dionysus. Dionysus offered the king his choice of reward.

Midas asked that whatever he might touch would turn to gold. Dionysus consented, though was sorry that he had not made a better choice. Midas rejoiced in his new power, which he hastened to put to the test. He touched and turned to gold an oak twig and a stone, but his joy vanished when he found that his bread, meat, and wine also turned to gold. Later, when his daughter embraced him, she too turned to gold.

The horrified king strove to divest the [[Midas Touch]], and he prayed to Dionysus to save him from starvation. The god consented, telling Midas to wash in the river [[Pactolus]]. As he did so, the power passed into them, and the river sands turned gold: this [[etiological myth]] explained the gold sands of the Pactolus.
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