Midas was the mythical king with the golden touch. Blessed with the ability to turn into glittering gold everything he touched, this divine gift soon turned into a curse when
he could no longer eat nor drink, much less hug his loved ones without changing them into solid gold.
Though a fabled figure of Greek mythology, there may have been a real King Midas. Archaeological and historical records confirm his existence as a formidable warrior known as Mita who ruled the ancient kingdom of Phrygia (a region in modern-day Turkey) during the late 8th century BCE. But did he, too, have a sort of Midas touch?
In this gallery, we explore the origins of this legendary monarch and examine his fate after wishing that all he touched might turn to gold. Click on to continue reading.