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

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

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