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The 'Myrmidons' (or 'Myrmidones' Μυρμιδόνες) were an ancient nation of Greek mythology. In Homer's ''Iliad'', the Myrmidons are the soldiers commanded by Achilles.[1] 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. An etiological myth of their origins, simply expanding upon their supposed etymology— the name in Classical Greek was interpreted as "ant-people", from ''murmekes'', "ants"— was first mentioned by Ovid, in ''Metamorphoses'': in Ovid's telling, the Myrmidons were simple worker ants on the island of Aegina.
The Myrmidons of Greek myth were known for their loyalty to their leaders, so that in pre-industrial Europe the word "myrmidon" carried many of the same connotations that "robot" does today. "Myrmidon" later came to mean "hired ruffian", according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
★ The Royal Navy has had several ships called HMS ''Myrmidon''.
★ "The Myrmidons" was the name adopted in 1865 by a private dining society in Merton College, Oxford. It is thought to be the oldest continuously active dining society in the University of Oxford. Max Beerbohm was a member, and the club called "The Junta" that features in his Oxford novel ''Zuleika Dobson'' is probably modeled on the Myrmidons. Other former members include Lord Randolph Churchill and Andrew Irvine.
★ In Blackadder's Christmas Carol, Blackadder sees a vision of the future where his distant descendent is a general in a galactic space empire, and after a battle is asked by Stephen Fry's character, "What news of the foul Myrmidons?" (Blackadder replies "Scattered to the nine vectors."
★ In ''The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'' by Tobias Smollett, the crew of Commodore Trunnion's garrison were referred to as "Myrmidons" due to their fierce loyalty.
★ In Grant Morrison's comic book ''The Invisibles'', the humans who serve the Archons and who have given themselves up for modification are known as Myrmidons.
★ In ''Chonchu'', a Manhwa (A Korean style of comics similar to the Japanese manga), the Mirmidons (with a little difference in the name's spelling) are a dreadful warrior tribe known for their strength and spirit. They are fierce fighters who live only for the delight of battling.
★ In Garth Nix's young adult novel, ''Shade's Children'', alien Overlords reconstruct human children into mindless soldiers called Myrmidons.
★ In Isobel Carmody's adult novel "Darkfall," the blind seer's female, Amazon-like warrior women protectors are called "Myrmidons," from the island of Myrmydori. They are fiercely loyal to their mistresses.
★ In ''The Languages of Pao'' by Jack Vance, a planet's population is artificially divided into three castes by imposing linguistic and cultural barriers; the members of the warrior caste refer to themselves as "Myrmidons."
★ In ''Hercules, My Shipmate'' by Robert Graves, Myrmidons are mentioned quite a few times as the book is about the story of Jason and the Argonauts.
★ The Myrmidons were depicted twice in the DC Comics book ''Wonder Woman''. The first time was when Wonder Woman astral projected into the mythological past to gain knowledge, and the second was in the ''Artemis/Requiem'' mini-series. There they are shown to now live in the underworld as servants, keeping guard over the dead.
★ In Jan Morris' novel 'Hav', which was first published as 'Last letters from Hav' in 1985, a second part appears in the 2006 version entitled 'Hav of the Myrmidons'. It portrays the (fictional) claim by a post-revolutionary regime to a mythical past derived from the legendary Myrmidons, companions of Achilles. The novel itself blurs the distinction between factual account and fiction, geographical precision and utopian abstraction to use Myrmidons as a metaphor for domination seeking to legitimate itself through ethnic descent from an ancient tribe. The grotesque 'Myrmidonic Tower' in Hav symbolises the instrumental use of ancient legends at the height of modernity.
★ In the 2000 book ''Centauri Dawn'' by Michael Ely, Myrmidons are the elite personal guard of Colonel Corazón Santiago, the leader of the Spartan Federation faction.
The term myrmidon enjoys widespread use in Computer and Video games, especially those in the Role-playing game genre. It is in common use as a title for character classes or enemies, or used as the name for a piece of equipment or vehicle within a game.
In the Fire Emblem series, the Myrmidon is a powerful sword-wielding class .
In EVE Online, the Myrmidon is a tier two Gallente Battlecruiser.
In FreeSpace 2, the Myrmidon is a Terran Space Superiority Fighter.
In Supreme Commander, the Myrmidon is a Cybran Tech 3 anti-air missile site.
In World of Warcraft, a series of armor pieces and a class of Naga warriors are named after Myrmidon.
In Mech Warrior 4, a Myrmidon is a remote controlled tank.
In , Myrmidons are Dark melee fighters.
In , Myrmidon is a rank in the gladiator-inspired Arena sidequest.
In Age Of Mythology, Myrmidons are a special infantry unit only available to characters using the god Zeus
In , Myrmidons are a class that specialized in critical attacks.
In Dark Age of Camelot, Myrmidon is used as a Realm Rank (3) in the realm of Albion.
In , the highest defense boots a character can use are the elite kind "Myrmidon Greaves".
In Dungeon Siege I, A Myrmidon is a character with Melee, Ranged, and Combat Magic all in the 20 to 49 level range
In Breath of Fire III, the Myrmidon is one of Ryu's dragon form, splicing ___,___,___ genes.
In Master of Magic, the second level for heroes is "Myrmidon".
1. Achilles himself is "the great Myrmidon/Who broils in loud applause" in Shakespeare's ''Troilus and Cressida''.
★ Myrmidons at WSU
★ Myrmidons at ''Timeless Myths''
★ Myrmidons at ''Online Mythology''
| Contents |
| Modern Myrmidons |
| Myrmidons in literature |
| Myrmidons in video games |
| Notes |
| External links |
Modern Myrmidons
The Myrmidons of Greek myth were known for their loyalty to their leaders, so that in pre-industrial Europe the word "myrmidon" carried many of the same connotations that "robot" does today. "Myrmidon" later came to mean "hired ruffian", according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
★ The Royal Navy has had several ships called HMS ''Myrmidon''.
★ "The Myrmidons" was the name adopted in 1865 by a private dining society in Merton College, Oxford. It is thought to be the oldest continuously active dining society in the University of Oxford. Max Beerbohm was a member, and the club called "The Junta" that features in his Oxford novel ''Zuleika Dobson'' is probably modeled on the Myrmidons. Other former members include Lord Randolph Churchill and Andrew Irvine.
★ In Blackadder's Christmas Carol, Blackadder sees a vision of the future where his distant descendent is a general in a galactic space empire, and after a battle is asked by Stephen Fry's character, "What news of the foul Myrmidons?" (Blackadder replies "Scattered to the nine vectors."
Myrmidons in literature
★ In ''The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'' by Tobias Smollett, the crew of Commodore Trunnion's garrison were referred to as "Myrmidons" due to their fierce loyalty.
★ In Grant Morrison's comic book ''The Invisibles'', the humans who serve the Archons and who have given themselves up for modification are known as Myrmidons.
★ In ''Chonchu'', a Manhwa (A Korean style of comics similar to the Japanese manga), the Mirmidons (with a little difference in the name's spelling) are a dreadful warrior tribe known for their strength and spirit. They are fierce fighters who live only for the delight of battling.
★ In Garth Nix's young adult novel, ''Shade's Children'', alien Overlords reconstruct human children into mindless soldiers called Myrmidons.
★ In Isobel Carmody's adult novel "Darkfall," the blind seer's female, Amazon-like warrior women protectors are called "Myrmidons," from the island of Myrmydori. They are fiercely loyal to their mistresses.
★ In ''The Languages of Pao'' by Jack Vance, a planet's population is artificially divided into three castes by imposing linguistic and cultural barriers; the members of the warrior caste refer to themselves as "Myrmidons."
★ In ''Hercules, My Shipmate'' by Robert Graves, Myrmidons are mentioned quite a few times as the book is about the story of Jason and the Argonauts.
★ The Myrmidons were depicted twice in the DC Comics book ''Wonder Woman''. The first time was when Wonder Woman astral projected into the mythological past to gain knowledge, and the second was in the ''Artemis/Requiem'' mini-series. There they are shown to now live in the underworld as servants, keeping guard over the dead.
★ In Jan Morris' novel 'Hav', which was first published as 'Last letters from Hav' in 1985, a second part appears in the 2006 version entitled 'Hav of the Myrmidons'. It portrays the (fictional) claim by a post-revolutionary regime to a mythical past derived from the legendary Myrmidons, companions of Achilles. The novel itself blurs the distinction between factual account and fiction, geographical precision and utopian abstraction to use Myrmidons as a metaphor for domination seeking to legitimate itself through ethnic descent from an ancient tribe. The grotesque 'Myrmidonic Tower' in Hav symbolises the instrumental use of ancient legends at the height of modernity.
★ In the 2000 book ''Centauri Dawn'' by Michael Ely, Myrmidons are the elite personal guard of Colonel Corazón Santiago, the leader of the Spartan Federation faction.
Myrmidons in video games
The term myrmidon enjoys widespread use in Computer and Video games, especially those in the Role-playing game genre. It is in common use as a title for character classes or enemies, or used as the name for a piece of equipment or vehicle within a game.
In the Fire Emblem series, the Myrmidon is a powerful sword-wielding class .
In EVE Online, the Myrmidon is a tier two Gallente Battlecruiser.
In FreeSpace 2, the Myrmidon is a Terran Space Superiority Fighter.
In Supreme Commander, the Myrmidon is a Cybran Tech 3 anti-air missile site.
In World of Warcraft, a series of armor pieces and a class of Naga warriors are named after Myrmidon.
In Mech Warrior 4, a Myrmidon is a remote controlled tank.
In , Myrmidons are Dark melee fighters.
In , Myrmidon is a rank in the gladiator-inspired Arena sidequest.
In Age Of Mythology, Myrmidons are a special infantry unit only available to characters using the god Zeus
In , Myrmidons are a class that specialized in critical attacks.
In Dark Age of Camelot, Myrmidon is used as a Realm Rank (3) in the realm of Albion.
In , the highest defense boots a character can use are the elite kind "Myrmidon Greaves".
In Dungeon Siege I, A Myrmidon is a character with Melee, Ranged, and Combat Magic all in the 20 to 49 level range
In Breath of Fire III, the Myrmidon is one of Ryu's dragon form, splicing ___,___,___ genes.
In Master of Magic, the second level for heroes is "Myrmidon".
Notes
1. Achilles himself is "the great Myrmidon/Who broils in loud applause" in Shakespeare's ''Troilus and Cressida''.
External links
★ Myrmidons at WSU
★ Myrmidons at ''Timeless Myths''
★ Myrmidons at ''Online Mythology''
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psst.. try this: add to faves
