Are Myrmidons real?
In Homer’s Iliad, the Myrmidons are the soldiers commanded by Achilles. Their eponymous ancestor was Myrmidon, a king of Phthiotis who was a son of Zeus and “wide-ruling” Eurymedousa, a princess of Phthiotis. She was seduced by him in the form of an ant….
| Myrmidons | |
|---|---|
| Base of operations | Aegina |
| Type | Nation |
| Leader | Achilles |
What is the origin of the Myrmidons?
The Myrmidons, legendary inhabitants of Thessaly in Greece, were known for their fierce devotion to Achilles, the king who led them in the Trojan War. Some say the name is from a legendary ancestor who once had the form of an ant; others say the Myrmidons were actually transformed from ants.
When did Zeus become an ant?
Zeus made himself as small as he could, and transformed into an ant in order to have sex with Eurymedousa, another princess in northern Greece. Their son was Myrmidon (“ant-man”) and was the progenitor of the race of warriors that Achilles commanded in The Iliad.
How did King Minos feed the Minotaur?
In order to feed the Minotaur, King Minos demanded that Athens (which owed him, for killing Minos’ son Androgeos) send seven boys and seven girls, either every year or every nine years (depending on the myth).
How is Achilles death ironic?
Soon after, Achilles kills Hector. Hector becomes confident when the reader knows he should not be. He thought he would have the victory but instead finds his death. Because the audience knows about this ahead of time, this is dramatic irony.
Who are the Myrmidons in Greek mythology?
Myrmidons, an ancient nation of Greek mythology. Myrmidon (hero), the eponymous ancestor of the mythological Myrmidons.
Where did the Myrmidons go in the Trojan War?
In the Iliad. According to Greek legend, the Myrmidons left their native island of Aegina and moved to Thessaly. From there, Aeacus’ grandson, Achilles, led the Myrmidons to battle in the Trojan War as an ally of the Achaeans.
How did Aeacus come up with the name Myrmidon?
Origins. Overnight, Aeacus has a dream in which 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 ( Greek: μύρμηξ ), meaning ant.
Who are the Bulgars and the Myrmidons?
The 12th-century Byzantine poet John Tzetzes also identified the Myrmidons with the Bulgars, whom he also identified with the Paeonians, although the latter may be intended in a purely geographical sense. In the 11th century, Michael Attaleiates called the Rus’ Myrmidons, but this usage did not catch on.