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{{Other uses|Myrmidon (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Myrmidon (disambiguation)}}
The '''Myrmidons''' or '''Myrmidones''' ({{lang-el|Μυρμιδόνες}}) were a legendary people of [[Greek history]]. They were very brave warriors, trained and commanded by [[Achilles]],<ref>Achilles himself is "the great Myrmidon/Who broils in loud applause" in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Troilus and Cressida]]''.</ref> as described in Homer's ''[[Iliad]]''. Their [[eponym]]ous ancestor was [[Myrmidon (hero)|Myrmidon]], a king of Thessalian [[Phthia]], who was the son of [[Zeus]] and "wide-ruling" [[Eurymedousa]], a princess of Phthia.
The Myrmidons or Myrmidones (Greek: Μυρμιδόνες) were a legendary people of Greek history. They were very brave warriors, trained and commanded by [[Achilles]],<ref>Achilles himself is "the great Myrmidon/Who broils in loud applause" in [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare's]] ''[[Troilus and Cressida]]''.</ref> as described in Homer's ''[[Iliad]].''
=== Myth of Origins ===
An etiological myth of their origins was first mentioned by [[Ovid]], in ''[[Metamorphoses]]''. In Ovid's telling, a terrible plague wipes out the population of the island [[Aegina]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidon {{!}} Greek mythology|url = http://www.britannica.com/topic/Myrmidon|website = Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate = 2015-11-18}}</ref>[[Hera]] is responsible for the devastating plague, jealous that her husband [[Zeus]] named the island after his lover, the nymph [[Aegina (mythology)]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people|url = http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Myrmidons.html|website = www.mythencyclopedia.com|accessdate = 2015-11-18}}</ref> King Aeacus of Aegina prays to Zeus to repopulate the island, and Zeus responds with a flash of lightning, which Aeacus understands to be an affirmation from the Gods.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people|url = http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Myrmidons.html|website = www.mythencyclopedia.com|accessdate = 2015-11-18}}</ref> Aeacus then sees a colony of ants covering a tree, so he asks for as many people as there are ants.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people|url = http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Myrmidons.html|website = www.mythencyclopedia.com|accessdate = 2015-11-18}}</ref> Overnight, Aeacus has a dream that these ants fall to the ground and are transformed into people. When he wakes the next morning, he finds that his island has been repopulated and that his prayers have been answered. He names the people "Myrmidons" after the Greek word ''myrmex,'' meaning ant.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people|url = http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Myrmidons.html|website = www.mythencyclopedia.com|accessdate = 2015-11-27}}</ref>


Hesoid's ''[[Catalogue of Women]]'' gives a similar myth of the origin of the Myrmidons''.'' In Hesoid's version, the son of Zeus and the nymph Aegina, Aeacus, grows up on the island of Aegina all alone.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidon {{!}} Greek mythology|url = http://www.britannica.com/topic/Myrmidon|website = Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate = 2015-11-18}}</ref> Aeacus prays to Zeus for company, and similarly to the legend in Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'', Zeus changes ants into men and women for his son to rule over.
An [[etiology|etiological myth]] of their origins, expanding upon their etymology – the name in Classical Greek was interpreted as "[[ant]]-people", from μυρμηδών (''murmedon''), "ant's nest",<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2369319 Murmedon], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', at Perseus</ref> and that from μύρμηξ (''murmex''), "ant"<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2369337 Murmex], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', at Perseus</ref> – was first mentioned by [[Ovid]], in ''[[Metamorphoses (poem)|Metamorphoses]]'': in Ovid's telling, King [[Aeacus]] of [[Aegina]], Achilles' grandfather, pleaded with Zeus to populate his country after a terrible plague. Zeus said his people would number as the ants on his sacred oak, and from the ants sprang the people of [[Aegina]], the Myrmidons.


=== The Myrmidons in Homer's ''Iliad'' ===
⚫
==Later use of the term==
According to Greek legend, the Myrmidons left their native island of Aegina and moved to Thessaly.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidon {{!}} Greek mythology|url = http://www.britannica.com/topic/Myrmidon|website = Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate = 2015-11-27}}</ref> From there, Aeacus' grandson, Achilles, led the Myrmidons to battle in the [[Trojan War]] as an ally of the Achaeans.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people|url = http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Myrmidons.html|website = www.mythencyclopedia.com|accessdate = 2015-11-27}}</ref> Homer's ''Iliad'' gives an account of the Trojan War with a focus on the role of Achilles. When King Agamemnon of the [[Achaeans (Homer)|Achaeans]] disrespects Achilles, he abandons the Greek forces and takes his army of Myrmidons with him.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Achilles - New World Encyclopedia|url = http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Achilles|website = www.newworldencyclopedia.org|accessdate = 2015-11-27}}</ref> When the Achaeans begin to suffer tremendous loss, [[Patroclus]] pleads to Achilles to rejoin the battle. Achilles refuses to fight, still bitter about the wrongs committed against him, but he allows Patroclus to borrow his armor and his army of Myrmidons. Patroclus commands the Myrmidons in battle, and together they push the Trojan forces back.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Achilles - New World Encyclopedia|url = http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Achilles|website = www.newworldencyclopedia.org|accessdate = 2015-11-27}}</ref> Although they were able to push Trojan forces back, Patroclus was killed by Hector in battle, inspiring Achilles to rejoin the Trojan War to seek revenge.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Achilles - New World Encyclopedia|url = http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Achilles|website = www.newworldencyclopedia.org|accessdate = 2015-12-02}}</ref>


=== Eponymy ===
⚫
In [[Manichaeism]], the name ''myrmidons'' is used to refer to a certain class of demonic soldiers that fight for darkness against light. This has been found by archaeologists in papyri known as Coptic Manichaean Psalm-books. These papyri were found in [[Medinet Maadi]], Egypt.<ref>Barnstone W & Meyer M (2009) The Gnostic Bible: Gnostic texts of mystical wisdom from the ancient and medieval worlds. Shambhala Publications: Boston & London.</ref>
The eponymous ancestor of the "Myrmidons" was Myrmidon, a king of Thessalian Phthia, who was the son of Zeus and Eurymedousa, a princess of Phthia. According to ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheca]]'' (a collection of myths)'','' Eurymedousa became pregnant with Myrmidon when she was seduced by Zeus in the physical form of an ant, giving their son his name.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Myrmidon {{!}} Greek mythology|url = http://www.britannica.com/topic/Myrmidon|website = Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate = 2015-11-30}}</ref> The name "Myrmidons" in Classical Greek was interpreted as "ant-people", from μυρμηδών (''murmedon''), "ant's nest",<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2369319&redirect=true Murmedon], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', at Perseus</ref> and that from μύρμηξ (''murmex''), "ant".<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2369337&redirect=true Murmex,] Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', at Perseus</ref>


⚫
=== Later Uses of the Term ===
⚫
The Myrmidons of Greek myth were known for their skill in battle and loyalty to their leaders. In pre-industrial [[Europe]] the word ''myrmidon'' carried many of the same connotations that ''[[wikt:minion|minion]]'' does today. ''Myrmidon'' later came to mean "hired ruffian" (according to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'') or "loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question, protest, or pity – unquestioning followers". ([[Reference.com|Dictionary.com]]).
⚫
In Manichaeism, the name ''myrmidons'' is used to refer to a certain class of demonic soldiers that fight for darkness against light. This has been found by archaeologists in papyri known as Coptic Manichaean Psalm-books. These papyri were found in Medinet Maadi, Egypt.<sup>[4]</sup>


⚫
The Myrmidons of Greek myth were known for their skill in battle and loyalty to their leaders. In pre-industrial Europe the word ''myrmidon'' carried many of the same connotations that ''minion'' does today. ''Myrmidon'' later came to mean "hired ruffian" (according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'') or "loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question, protest, or pity – unquestioning followers". (Dictionary.com).
''Myrmidons'' was also the title of the first of a trilogy of plays by [[Aeschylus]], collectively known as the ''[[Achilleis (trilogy)|Achilleis]]''.

''Myrmidons'' was also the title of the first of a trilogy of plays by Aeschylus collectively known as the ''Achilleis''. This play draws on the interactions between Achilles and Patroclus in Homer's ''Iliad,'' however, only fragments of the play survived and it is therefore incomplete.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Achilles (Aeschylus)|url = http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/LX/AchillesAeschylus.html|website = www.mlahanas.de|accessdate = 2015-11-18}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 19:42, 9 December 2015

For other uses, see Myrmidon (disambiguation).

The Myrmidons or Myrmidones (Greek: Μυρμιδόνες) were a legendary people of Greek history. They were very brave warriors, trained and commanded by Achilles,[1] as described in Homer's Iliad.

Myth of Origins

An etiological myth of their origins was first mentioned by Ovid, in Metamorphoses. In Ovid's telling, a terrible plague wipes out the population of the island Aegina.[2]Hera is responsible for the devastating plague, jealous that her husband Zeus named the island after his lover, the nymph Aegina (mythology).[3] King Aeacus of Aegina prays to Zeus to repopulate the island, and Zeus responds with a flash of lightning, which Aeacus understands to be an affirmation from the Gods.[4] Aeacus then sees a colony of ants covering a tree, so he asks for as many people as there are ants.[5] Overnight, Aeacus has a dream that these ants fall to the ground and are transformed into people. When he wakes the next morning, he finds that his island has been repopulated and that his prayers have been answered. He names the people "Myrmidons" after the Greek word myrmex, meaning ant.[6]

Hesoid's Catalogue of Women gives a similar myth of the origin of the Myrmidons. In Hesoid's version, the son of Zeus and the nymph Aegina, Aeacus, grows up on the island of Aegina all alone.[7] Aeacus prays to Zeus for company, and similarly to the legend in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Zeus changes ants into men and women for his son to rule over.

The Myrmidons in Homer's Iliad

According to Greek legend, the Myrmidons left their native island of Aegina and moved to Thessaly.[8] From there, Aeacus' grandson, Achilles, led the Myrmidons to battle in the Trojan War as an ally of the Achaeans.[9] Homer's Iliad gives an account of the Trojan War with a focus on the role of Achilles. When King Agamemnon of the Achaeans disrespects Achilles, he abandons the Greek forces and takes his army of Myrmidons with him.[10] When the Achaeans begin to suffer tremendous loss, Patroclus pleads to Achilles to rejoin the battle. Achilles refuses to fight, still bitter about the wrongs committed against him, but he allows Patroclus to borrow his armor and his army of Myrmidons. Patroclus commands the Myrmidons in battle, and together they push the Trojan forces back.[11] Although they were able to push Trojan forces back, Patroclus was killed by Hector in battle, inspiring Achilles to rejoin the Trojan War to seek revenge.[12]

Eponymy

The eponymous ancestor of the "Myrmidons" was Myrmidon, a king of Thessalian Phthia, who was the son of Zeus and Eurymedousa, a princess of Phthia. According to Bibliotheca (a collection of myths), Eurymedousa became pregnant with Myrmidon when she was seduced by Zeus in the physical form of an ant, giving their son his name.[13] The name "Myrmidons" in Classical Greek was interpreted as "ant-people", from μυρμηδών (murmedon), "ant's nest",[14] and that from μύρμηξ (murmex), "ant".[15]

Later Uses of the Term

In Manichaeism, the name myrmidons is used to refer to a certain class of demonic soldiers that fight for darkness against light. This has been found by archaeologists in papyri known as Coptic Manichaean Psalm-books. These papyri were found in Medinet Maadi, Egypt.[4]

The Myrmidons of Greek myth were known for their skill in battle and loyalty to their leaders. In pre-industrial Europe the word myrmidon carried many of the same connotations that minion does today. Myrmidon later came to mean "hired ruffian" (according to the Oxford English Dictionary) or "loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question, protest, or pity – unquestioning followers". (Dictionary.com).

Myrmidons was also the title of the first of a trilogy of plays by Aeschylus collectively known as the Achilleis. This play draws on the interactions between Achilles and Patroclus in Homer's Iliad, however, only fragments of the play survived and it is therefore incomplete.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Achilles himself is "the great Myrmidon/Who broils in loud applause" in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida.
  2. ^ "Myrmidon | Greek mythology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  3. ^ "Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people". www.mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  4. ^ "Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people". www.mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  5. ^ "Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people". www.mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  6. ^ "Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people". www.mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  7. ^ "Myrmidon | Greek mythology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  8. ^ "Myrmidon | Greek mythology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  9. ^ "Myrmidons - Myth Encyclopedia - mythology, Greek, story, legend, tree, war, hero, king, people". www.mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  10. ^ "Achilles - New World Encyclopedia". www.newworldencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  11. ^ "Achilles - New World Encyclopedia". www.newworldencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  12. ^ "Achilles - New World Encyclopedia". www.newworldencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
  13. ^ "Myrmidon | Greek mythology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  14. ^ Murmedon, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Perseus
  15. ^ Murmex, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Perseus
  16. ^ "Achilles (Aeschylus)". www.mlahanas.de. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
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