Augean stables

views updated May 14 2018

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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