Here are some key details about Midas:
* His Touch Turned Everything to Gold: Midas was granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold by Dionysus, a god of wine, revelry, and theatre. This was initially a great boon, but it soon became a curse as even his food and loved ones turned into gold, leading to his despair.
* The Source of His Power: The story of Midas' golden touch is often tied to a story of a judgment between Apollo and Pan. Midas, as judge, favored Pan's music, and Apollo, in anger, granted Midas his golden touch.
* The "Golden Touch" Curse: While the "golden touch" initially delighted Midas, it quickly became a source of misery. He was forced to beg Dionysus to reverse the curse, which he did by having Midas bathe in the river Pactolus. This is why the river was said to carry gold-bearing sand.
* Other Myths: There are other stories associated with Midas, such as the myth of the "Ass's Ears" where he is gifted with donkey ears for a foolish judgment.
Midas remains a popular figure in literature and art, representing the dangers of greed and the seductive power of wealth.