Myrmekes (Μύρμηκες) is Greek for "
ant
Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cre ...
s". Greek mythological animals and tribes were called with this name.
Mythology
Herodotus
Herodotus (; BC) was a Greek historian and geographer from the Greek city of Halicarnassus (now Bodrum, Turkey), under Persian control in the 5th century BC, and a later citizen of Thurii in modern Calabria, Italy. He wrote the '' Histori ...
wrote about
gold-digging ant
The gold-digging ant is a mythical insect described in classical and medieval bestiaries. They were dog- or fox-sized ants that dug up gold in sandy areas. Some versions of the '' Physiologus'' said they came from Ethiopia, while Herodotus claim ...
s in India which were smaller than dogs but larger than foxes.
Aelian Aelian or Aelianus may refer to:
* Aelianus Tacticus, 2nd-century Greek military writer in Rome
* Casperius Aelianus (13–98 AD), Praetorian Prefect, executed by Trajan
* Claudius Aelianus
Claudius Aelianus (; ), commonly Aelian (), born at Pr ...
wrote: "The Indian ants (μύρμηκες οἱ Ἰνδικοὶ) which guard the gold will not cross the river Campylinus."
Aelian, De Natura Animalium, 3.4-3.5
/ref>
See also
*Gold-digging ant
The gold-digging ant is a mythical insect described in classical and medieval bestiaries. They were dog- or fox-sized ants that dug up gold in sandy areas. Some versions of the '' Physiologus'' said they came from Ethiopia, while Herodotus claim ...
*Myrmex (Attic woman)
In Greek and Roman mythology, Myrmex () is a young maiden who became a favourite of the goddess Athena. Her story survives in the works of fifth-century AD Latin grammarian Maurus Servius Honoratus.
Etymology
The ancient Greek noun means 'ant ...
*Myrmidons
In Greek mythology, the Myrmidons (or Myrmidones; , singular: , ) were an ancient Thessaly, Thessalian tribe.
In Homer's ''Iliad'', the Myrmidons are the soldiers commanded by Achilles. Their :wikt:eponym, eponymous ancestor was Myrmidon (hero) ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Myrmekes
at Theoi.com
Myrmekes
at Mythical Creatures List
Gold
Greek legendary creatures
Indian legendary creatures
Mythological insects