Myrmĭdŏnes

, a people on the southern borders of The aly, who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan war. They received their name from Myrmidon, a son of Jupiter and Eurymedusa, who married one of the daughters of Æolus son of Hellen. His son Actor married Ægin a the daughter of the Asopus. He gave his name to his subjects, who dwelt near the river Peneus in The aly. According to some, the Myrmidons received their name from their having been originally ants, μυρμηκες . See: Æacus . According to Strabo, they received it from their industry, because they imitated the diligence of the ants, and like them were indefatigable, and were continually employed in cultivating the earth. Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 1 , li. 654 .— Strabo. — Hyginus , fable 52.