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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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