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Silenus
Silenus was tutor and foster-father to
Dionysus. When Silenus
became lost one day after having had too much to drink, peasants
found him and took him to their king, Midas. Midas feted Silenus for
ten days, then returned him to Dionysus, who showed his gratitude by
granting Midas the wish of his choice. His wish? To make everything
he touched turn to gold. To his horror, Midas soon discovered that
he could no longer eat or drink, because anything he brought to his
lips instantly became gold. With death looming, he prayed to
Dionysus to divest him of his magical power. Feeling merciful,
Dionysus told Midas to wash his greed and his punishment from him in
the river Pactolus. Midas did as he was told, and to this day the
river sands run gold.
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