A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1084 MIDAS. MIDIAS.
Syracuse, who had been on friendly terms with second story relates his capture of Satyrus. Midas,
Anaxilas, was induced to invite the sons of that who was himself related to the race of Satyrs,
monarch, who were now grown up to manhood, to once had a visit from ia Satyr, who indulged
his court, and there urged them to require of their in all kinds of jokes, and ridiculed the king for
guardian the surrender of the sovereign power, and his Satyr's ears. Midas, who had learnt from his
an account of his administration. But on the return mother how Satyrs might be caught and brought
of the young princes (B. c. 467), Micythus imme- to reason, mixed wine in a well, and when the
diately complied with their request; and after Satyr had drunk of it, he fell asleep and was
rendering an exact account of the period of his caught (Philostr. Vit. Apoll. vi. 27). This well of
rule, resigned the supreme power, and departed Midas was at different times assigned to different
with all his private wealth to the Peloponnese, localities. Xenophon (Anab. i. 2. ~ 13) places it
where he settled at Tegea, and resided there the in the neighbourhood of Thymbrium and Tyraeum,
rest of his life in honour and tranquillity. He is and Pausanias (i. 4. ~ 5) at Ancyra (comp. Athen.
also mentioned by Pausanias (who calls him Smi- ii. 45; Plut. De Fluv. 10). Once when Pan and
cythus) as having distinguished himself by the Apollo were engaged in a musical contest on the
number of statues and other offerings that he dedi- flute and lyre, Tmolus, or according to others
cated at Olympia. (Herod. vii. 170; Diod. xi. (Hygin. Fab. 191, who speaks of the contest be48, 52, 59, 66; Paus. v. 26. ~~ 4, 5; Strab. vi. tween Apollo and Marsyas), Midas, was chosen to
p. 253; Macrob. Sat. i. 11. p. 259, ed. Zeun.) decide between them. Tmolus decided in favour
2. An officer under Lyciscus, the general of of Apollo, and all agreed in it except Midas. To
Cassander, who was killed in battle against Alex- punish him for this, Apollo changed his ears into,lrder, the son of Alcetas, king of Epeirus, B.c. those of an ass.' Midas contrived to conceal them
31-2. (Diod. xix. 88.) [E. H. B.] under his Phrygian cap, but the servant who used
MIDAS (MtSas), a son of Gordius, according to cut his hair discovered them. The secret so
to some by Cybele (Hygin. Fab. 274), a wealthy much harassed this man, that as he could not hebut effeminate king of Phrygia, a pupil of Orpheus, tray it to a human being, he dug a hole in the earth,
and a promoter of the worship of Dionysus (Herod. and whispered into it, " King Midas has ass's ears."
i. 14; Paus. i. 4. ~ 5; Aelian, V.H. iv. 17; He then filled the hole up again, and his heart was
Strab. vii. p. 304). His wealth is alluded to in released. But on the same spot a reed grew up,
a story connected with his childhood, for it is said which in its whispers betrayed the secret to the
that while yet a child, ants carried grains of wheat world (Ov. Met. xi. 1.46, &c.; Pers. Sat. i. 121;
into his mouth to indicate that one day he should Aristoph. Plut. 287). Midas is said to have killed
be the richest of all mortals (Cic,. De Div. i. 36; himself by drinking the blood of an ox. (Strab. i.
Val. Max. i. 6. ~ 3; Aelian, V. H. xii. 45). His p. 61; Plut. De Superst. 7.) [L. S.]
effeminacy is described by Philostratus (Icon. i. MIDEA'TIS (Mea6aTLs), a surname of Alcmene,
22; comp. Athen. xii. p. 516). It seems probable derived from the town of Midea in Argolis, where
that in this character he was introduced into the her father Electryon ruled as king. (Paus. ii. 25.
Satyric dramla of the Greeks, and was represented ~ 8; Theocrit. xiii. 20, xxiv. 1.) [L. S.]
with the ears of a satyr, which were afterwards MIDEIA, or MI'DEA (Mlelta, or Mtbea). 1.
lengthened into the ears of an ass. He is said to A Phrygian woman, the mother of. Licymnius and
have built the town of Ancyra (Strab. xiii. pp. Electryon. (Apollod. ii. 4. ~ 5; Pind. 01. vii. 29;
568, 57]; Paus. i. 4. ~ 5), and as king of comp. LIcYMNIUS.)
Phrygia he is called Berecynthtus heros (Ov. Met. 2. A daughter of Phylas, and by Heracles the
xi. 106). In reference to his later life we have mother of Antiochus. (Paus. i. 5. ~ 2, x. 10. ~ 1.)
several legends, the first of which relates his 3. A nymph, who became the mother of Aspledon
reception of Seilenus. During the expedition of by Poseidon. (Paus. ix. 38. ~ 6.) [L. S.]
Dionysus from Thrace to Phrygia, Seilenus in a MI'DIAS or MEI'DIAS (Mert/as). 1. An
state of intoxication had gone astray, anId was Athenian, of no very reputable character, to whom
caught by country. people in the rose gardens of we find the nickname of "quail" applied in ArisMidas. He was bound in wreaths of flowers and tophanes (Av. 1297), because,-so says the poet,
led before the king. These gardens were in Ma- -" he is like a quail with its head broken." No
cedonia, near Mount Bermion or Bromion, where doubt there is also an allusion here, as we learn
Midas was king of the' Briges, with whom he from the scholiast on the passage, to his propensity
afterwards emigrated to Asia, where their name for the game of quail-striking (opTrvyorKonra) and
was changed into Phryges (Herod. vii. 83, viii. the gambling which accompanied it. We hear
138; Conon, Narrat. 1). Midas received Seilenus that he was satirized, too, by other comic poets
kindly, conversed with him (comp. Plut. Consol. ad (Phrynichus, Plato, and Metagenes) as a very
Apoll.; Aelian, V. H. iii. 18), and after having great knave, beggarly at once and arrogant (co'atreated him hospitably for ten days, he led hinr Aos Kal 7rcTwXaAaev). By Plato, the philosopher
back to his divine pupil, Dionysus, who in his (if indeed the dialogue in question be his), he is
gratitude requested Midas to ask a favour. Midas mentioned as a man who, though utterly uneduin his folly desired that all things which he touched cated both in mind and in character, presumed to
should be changed into gold (comp. Plut. Parall. take a part in public affairs, and made his way by
]Afin. 5). The request was granted, but as even dint of impudence and flattery of the people. In
the food which he touched was changed into gold, the NIKaL of Plato, the comic poet, peculation of
he implored the god to take his favour back. Dio- the public money was charged against him along
nysus accordingly ordered him to bathe in the with his other tricks of knavery. (Plat. Ale. Prim.
source of Pactolus near Mount Tmolus. This p. 120; Schol. ad loc.; Athen. xi. p. 506, d;
bath saved Midas, but the river from that time had Dalechamp, ad loc.; Suid. s.. dpTrvyolo'7ror;
an abundance of gold in its sand (Ov. Met. xi. 90, Meineke, Fragm. Corn. Graec. vol ii pp. 182, 644,
&c.; Hlygin. Fab. 191; Virg. Eclog. vi. 13). A 755; Dindorf and Brunck, ad Arist. 1. c.)