1. Clean the Augean stables in a single day.Juan Jos Marn
Lanzas
2. The fifth of the Twelve Labours set to Hercules was to clean
the Augean stables in a single day. The reasoning behind this being
set as a labour was twofold: firstly, all the previous labours
exalted Heracles in the eyes of the people and this one would
surely degrade him.
3. Secondly, as the livestock were a divine gift to Augeas they
were immune from disease and thus the amount of dirt and filth
amassed in the uncleaned stables made the task surely impossible.
However, Heracles succeeded by rerouting the rivers Alpheus and
Peneus to wash out the filth.
4. Augeas was irate because he had promised Heracles one-tenth
of his cattle if the job was finished in one day. He refused to
honour the agreement, and Heracles killed him after completing the
tasks and gave his kingdom to Augeas' son, Phyleus, who had been
exiled for supporting Heracles against his father
5. The success of this labour was ultimately discounted because
the rushing waters had done the work of cleaning the stables and
because Hercules was paid.
