Gild

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death by suicide.

Raven Kennedy’s Plated Prisoner series is inspired by the Greek myth of King Midas and his famous golden touch. As she states in her author’s note, Kennedy’s goal is to reimagine the myth from a woman’s perspective. The original version of Midas is a legendary king in Greek and Roman mythology; he was said to rule the ancient kingdom of Phrygia in what is now Anatolia, and the mythological figure of Midas was possibly named after a real person who ruled during the eighth century BC. There are several versions of the myth. In one, Midas is an orphan who is adopted by King Gordias (the man who famously tied the Gordian Knot) and Gordias’s goddess-consort, Cybele, the mother-goddess of Anatolia. As Gordias’s adopted son, Midas inherits the throne. In another variation, Midas is the son of a peasant named Gordios. When the kingdom of Phrygia descends into chaos, an oracle prophesies that the new king will arrive on a wagon to save the people. Shortly afterward, Midas arrives by wagon with his father to pay homage to the Delphi Oracle and is therefore declared the king. 

In most variations, Midas marries the Greek princess Damodice (sometimes also called Hermodike) and has one child—either a daughter or a son, depending on the version. Midas also gains fame due to two different mythic encounters with gods. In the first, servants find an intoxicated and unconscious satyr named Silenus in Midas’s gardens. Midas recognizes Silenus as one of the most beloved followers of Dionysus (the Greek god of wine and revelry). He therefore hosts Silenus with feasts and entertainment for 10 days. On the 11th day, he returns Silenus to Dionysus’ court, where Dionysus offers him a reward. Midas asks that everything he touches be turned to gold, and Dionysus grants his wish. Midas delights in his new ability, but when he returns home, he soon realizes that he cannot eat or drink because everything turns to gold when it touches his teeth or tongue. Worse yet, his daughter touches him and turns to gold as well. Now cursing his gift, Midas prays to Dionysus for help, and the god orders him to bathe in the Pactolus River to rid himself of the magic.

In a later myth, now regretting his greed, Midas renounces his wealth and moves to the countryside to become a follower of the Greek god Pan. However, he accidentally inserts himself into a disagreement between gods. When Pan brashly compares his own musical prowess to that of Apollo (the god of music and the sun) and challenges Apollo to a competition, the chosen judge gives the victory to Apollo, but Midas suggests that Pan should win instead. In retaliation for this affront, Apollo gives Midas donkey ears. Ashamed, Midas attempts to hide the ears beneath his long hair. According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Herodotus’s Histories, Midas then poisons himself, dying by suicide.