Myrmidin, a women's metallic gold-plated breast ornament. It consists of thin chains, with three vertical ones connected by nine horizontal ones. This particular ornament exhibits some peculiarities: in the examples found in Cyprus, the two outermost vertical chains are longer and have hooks at their ends for attachment to the shirt, so that the chest is covered with a sparse network of fine chains (for the wearing of this ornament with traditional costumes, see Papadimitriou 1991, fig. 11, 12; for examples of the myrmidin, see: Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 2020, 280-281, fig. 81, 82). The myrmidin of the collection hangs from the neck, which it surrounds with an additional chain connected to the outer vertical ones (see myrmidin with neck chain in Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 206, fig. 203). The central vertical chain consists of a series of closely linked miniature rhomboid elements connected with small rings, while the outermost chains are formed by parallel cylindrical metallic elements with ridges on their surface, connected with rings.
It is worth noting that in Cypriot glossaries, the term myrmidin is believed to derive from the word μύρμηκες/myrmikes, meaning ants, and particularly myrmikidion/myrmidion, meaning small ant, or from myrmyridion, meaning countless: Loukas 2002, w. μυρμείδιν/myrmeidin. Pharmakides 1983, w. μυρμίδιν/myrmidin. Possibly related is the ancient word μέρμις/mermis, which means fine rope (Liddel and Scott 1907, vol. III, w. μέρμις).
Dimensions: height 24 cm., width 27 cm.
