Midas

In Greek mythology, a king of Phrygia who was granted the ability to convert all he touched to gold by Dionysus, god of wine and excess; the gift became a curse when his food and drink also turned to metal. In another story he was given ass's ears by Apollo for preferring the music of Pan in a contest between the two gods.

Midas was relieved of his golden touch by bathing in the sources of the River Pactolus, whose sands became enriched with gold, but he could only attempt to hide the disfigurement of his ears beneath a tall Phrygian cap. His barber was the only person burdened with the knowledge, but was unable to keep it to himself. He confided the secret to a hole in the ground and buried his words, whereupon a reed grew up and whispered them to the world.

The father of Midas was Gordius, the Phrygian king who wrought the Gordian knot, which would reputedly be unravelled by the future conqueror of Asia.

MIDAS

Acronym for Missile Defence Alarm System.