King Midas and the Golden Touch – A Tale of Greed and Love

The Golden Curse


A long time ago, in a land called Greece, there lived a king named Midas. King Midas was very rich. He had gold, jewels, and the finest clothes. His palace sparkled with treasure, and everyone in the kingdom admired him. But Midas was not just rich—he had a kind heart.

More than anything, Midas loved his daughter. She was his pride and joy. Her laughter filled the palace, and her smile could make anyone happy. Even though Midas loved gold, he loved his daughter more.

One sunny morning, something unusual happened in Midas’ rose garden. A strange creature was lying among the flowers. It was a satyr named Silenus. He was a funny little man with goat legs, pointy ears, and a long, curly tail. But today, Silenus was very drunk and could not stand. He had passed out in the soft grass.

When the king saw him, he said, “Who are you, little man? Why are you lying here?”

Silenus mumbled in his sleep, “I… I am a friend of Dionysus… help me… please…”

Midas laughed and said, “You look tired. Come to my palace. I will give you food and a bed until you are well.”

His wife frowned. “Midas! Why are you letting this stranger stay here?” she asked.

And his daughter said, “Father, he looks scary! What if he causes trouble?”

Midas smiled. “Do not worry. Satyrs are lucky. Besides, he is a friend of the great god Dionysus. We should help him.”

So Silenus stayed in the palace. When he woke up, he was very happy. He told Midas about his friend Dionysus, the god of wine and celebration. Silenus said, “King Midas, your kindness will be rewarded. Dionysus is very grateful.”

When Dionysus heard that Midas had helped his friend, he appeared in the palace with a gentle smile. “King Midas,” said Dionysus, “you have shown great kindness. I want to reward you. Tell me your greatest wish.”

Midas thought for a moment. His eyes sparkled as he said, “I wish that everything I touch turns into gold!”

Dionysus raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure, Midas? That is a very unusual wish. It may not be as wonderful as it sounds.”

Midas nodded eagerly. “Yes, I am sure! I want to be the richest man in the world. Please, make it happen!”

Dionysus sighed but waved his hand. “So be it. From this moment, whatever you touch will turn into gold.”

At first, Midas was overjoyed. He touched a chair, and it became shiny gold. He touched a flower, and it turned into a golden blossom. He touched a fruit, and it sparkled like a treasure.

“My garden! My palace! Everything is gold!” he shouted.

The servants and townspeople gathered outside. They were amazed. “Look at all this gold!” they said. “The king is richer than anyone in history!”

Midas was so excited that he ran to hug his daughter. “My dear child, let me hug you too!” he said.

But as soon as he touched her, something terrible happened. She became a golden statue. Her soft skin, her hair, her gentle smile—all turned into cold, hard gold. Midas’ joy vanished in an instant.

“No! My daughter! What have I done?” he cried. Tears ran down his cheeks as he shook the golden statue.

His wife rushed to him. “Midas! You wished for this! Everything you touch is gold! Look what your greed has done!”

Midas ran to the garden where Dionysus had first appeared. “Please, great Dionysus!” he cried. “Take back this wish. My daughter is gone. I cannot live like this!”

Dionysus looked at him kindly. “Midas, you have learned a hard lesson. True happiness is not in gold, but in love, kindness, and family. Wash yourself in the river Pactolus. There, your golden touch will disappear.”

Midas ran to the river. He washed his hands, arms, and face. Slowly, the gold disappeared from everything he had touched. Then, he ran back to the palace and touched his daughter.

Her warmth returned. She laughed and hugged him tightly. “Father! I am back!” she said.

Midas held her close. “I will never wish for gold again. From now on, I am happy with what I have—my family and my friends.”

And so, King Midas lived the rest of his life happily. He shared his wealth, but he never let greed rule his heart. His daughter grew up to be wise and kind, just like her father had become.

THE END

Moral
Being greedy can hurt the people you love. True happiness comes from love, family, and friendship, not from money or treasures.

Comprehension Questions (What Happened?)

  1. Question: Who was King Midas?
    Answer: King Midas was a very rich king in ancient Greece who loved gold, but he loved his daughter more.

  2. Question: Who came to King Midas’ garden one day?
    Answer: A satyr named Silenus, who was a friend of the god Dionysus, came to the garden drunk and tired.

  3. Question: Why did Dionysus give Midas a wish?
    Answer: Dionysus was grateful because Midas was kind and helped his friend Silenus.

  4. Question: What wish did King Midas make?
    Answer: He wished that everything he touched would turn into gold.

  5. Question: What happened when Midas touched his daughter?
    Answer: She turned into a golden statue, and he realized his wish was a mistake.

  6. Question: How did Midas fix his mistake?
    Answer: Dionysus told him to wash in the river Pactolus, and then everything turned back to normal, including his daughter.

Critical Thinking Questions (Why and What If?)

  1. Question: Why do you think Midas wanted everything to be gold?
    Answer: He was greedy and thought gold would make him the happiest person in the world.

  2. Question: What could Midas have done instead of wishing for gold?
    Answer: He could have asked for something that brings happiness, like good health, love, or wisdom.

  3. Question: What would have happened if Midas had hugged other people before realizing his mistake?
    Answer: They would also have turned into gold, and he could have lost everyone he loved.

  4. Question: Do you think Midas learned his lesson? Why or why not?
    Answer: Yes, he learned that love and family are more important than gold, and he lived happily without greed.

Moral and Life Lesson Questions (Applying the Story)

  1. Question: What does this story teach us about greed?
    Answer: It teaches that being greedy can cause problems and hurt the people we love.

  2. Question: Can money buy everything? Why or why not?
    Answer: No, money cannot buy love, happiness, or family.


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