Troy: The Greek Myths Reimagined (Stephen Fry's Great Mythology #3)

by Stephen Fry

Alone and unhappy, Aeacus wandered his island praying to his father Zeus for help. Falling into a sleep under a tree he was awoken by a column of ants marching over his face. He looked around and saw a whole colony swarming about him. “Father Zeus!” he cried out. “Only let there be as many mortals to keep me company on this island as there are ants on this tree.” He caught Zeus in a good mood. In answer to his son’s prayer the King of the Gods transformed the ants into people, whom Aeacus called the Myrmidons after myrmex, the Greek word for ant. In time most of the Myrmidons left Aegina and made their home in Phthia. And that is the reason Peleus chose Phthia as a place for exile and expiation: to be with the Myrmidons.23

Troy by Stephen Fry