MYRMIDONS (MYRMIDONES), in antiquity; a people on the southern borders of Thessaly, 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 Aeolus, son of Helen. His son Aëtor married Agina the daughter of Asopus. He gave his name to his subjects, who dwelt near the river Peneus in Thessaly. According to some, the Myrmidons received their name from their having arisen from ants or pismires, upon a prayer put up for that purpose by
king Alcius to Jupiter, after his kingdom had been dispeopled by a severe pestilence. 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.
MYRMILONES were gladiators of a certain kind at Rome, who fought against the Retiarii. Their arms were a sword, head-piece, and shield. On the top of the head-piece they wore a fish embossed, called Myrmion, whence their name is by some supposed to be derived. The Retiarii, in their engagements, made use of a net, in which they endeavoured to entangle their adversaries, and sung during the fight, "Non te peto, pisces peto; quid me facis, Galle?" "I aim not at thee, but I aim at thy fish; why dost thou shun me, O Gaul?" The Myrmilones were called Galli, because they wore Gallic armour. They were also named Scymores. This kind of gladiators was suppressed by Caligula. See GLADIATORS, RETIARI, &c.