Augeas

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Augeas

Augeas , in Greek mythology, son of Helios and king of Elis. He kept his huge herds of cattle in the Augean Stables. As his sixth labor, Hercules cleaned the stables in one day by diverting the course of a river (possibly the Alpheus) through them.

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Augean stables

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Augean stables in Greek mythology, vast stables (belonging to King Augeas) which had never been cleaned; this was achieved (as the sixth of his Labours) by Hercules, who cleaned them in a day by diverting the River Alpheus to flow through them. The term is often used figuratively to refer to corruption or waste developed over a long period.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Augean stables." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 17 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Augean stables." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Augeanstables.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Augean stables." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Augeanstables.html

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