Myrmidons

<Back to Last Page> <Full Glossary>

Related Terms • Achilles • Peleus

Definition: The Myrmidons are familiar from the story of the Trojan War because they were the troops Achilles led to Troy. Their name means ants and they were called Myrmidons because it is said that they were originally ants.

The grandfather of Achilles was Aiacos whose son Phocus wound up on an island all alone. In response to his grief, Zeus, his grandfather, gave him company by turning the ants into men and women. These Myrmidons were the first to build ships with sails (according to fragment 205 of Hesiod).

Pronunciation: 'm&r-m&-"dän, -d&n • (noun)

Related Resources:

Trojan War
Sequence of events in the Trojan War

Achilles

Achilles Genealogy
Shows the relationship between Zeus, Aiacos, and Achilles.

<Back to Last Page> <Full Glossary>

Free Ancient History Newsletter!Sign Up