Myrmekes

Myrmekes (Μύρμηκες) is Greek for "ants". Greek mythological animals and tribes were called with this name.

Three dog-like ants attacking a tethered camel, man in a tunic, c. 1000

Mythology

Herodotus wrote about gold-digging ants in India which were smaller than dogs but larger than foxes.^[1]

Aelian wrote: "The Indian ants (μύρμηκες οἱ Ἰνδικοὶ) which guard the gold will not cross the river Campylinus."^[2]

See also

• Gold-digging ant
• Myrmex (Attic woman)
• Myrmidons