Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

wealth transformed into golden touch legend

wealth_transformed_into_golden_touch_legend

A motif of the Pride, Hubris, and Downfall family, within the sub-family Wealth, Luxury, and Greed. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


roman

  • The Metamorphoses of Ovid, Books VIII-XV BOOK THE ELEVENTH. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION. / EXPLANATION.; lines 6157-6253 confidence: medium

    Midas is described as son of Gordius and Cybele, rich and frugal; the golden touch report is rationalized through Bacchus’ favor, gold from Pactolus or Mount Bermius, and an infancy omen of ants placing wheat in his mouth.

    The explanation says Midas’ wealth and extraction of gold may have produced the report that everything he touched turned to gold.

    read in the book