In Greek mythology, the Augean Stables, or at least their cleaning, are famously an impossible labour given to the Greek hero Heracles.

The Augean Stables

The Augean Stables were to be found in Elis, a region of the north west Peloponnese, and were the property of King Augeas, hence the name. Rather than stables though, they were actually cattle sheds, home to the divine cattle of the king. In some sources there were said to be a 1,000 such cattle housed in the shed, with the stables themselves having not been cleaned for 30 years.

The task of cleaning the Augean Stables in one day, set by King Eurystheus was designed to not just be impossible, but also to be demeaning for a hero such as Heracles.

The fifth labour

Heracles would arrive in Elis and sought out an audience with King Augeas, the initial meeting was friendly. Heracles then said he would clean out the stables in return for payment of one-tenth of the cattle; the hero did not mention that the actual task was one set by another king. Augeas agreed to the payment as he, like Eurystheus, considered the job impossible.

When Heracles set out early in the morning to start the job of cleaning the Augean Stables, Phyleus, King Augeas’ son accompanied the hero as witness.

Rather than take up a shovel to clear the dung from the stables, Heracles started, mysteriously, by creating a hole in the side of the stables. Then the hero set about diverting the two powerful rivers of the region, the rivers Alpheus and Peneus, through the hole. The combined power of the rivers flushed the stables, cleaning them in less than one day.

After the task

Despite successfully completing the allotted task, both King Augeas and King Eurystheus refused to recognise the success. King Augeas found out that it was a labour set by a fellow king, and so believed that Heracles should not receive payment for it; and King Eurystheus refused to recognise it as the hero had sought payment for the task.

Heracles was more upset with Augeas than Eurystheus though, partially because the king of Elis banished him and the king’s own son, Phyleus; Phyleus having born witness that Augeas should pay Heracles.

After Heracles had completed all twelve of his labours, the hero would return to Elis, this time as the head of an army of Arcadians, Thebans and Argives. Augeas rallied his own troops and placed at their command the twin Molionides, and initially the twins managed to stop the advance of Heracles. Heracles though used his cunning, and ambushed the Molionides, killing them. The army of Augeas, with no military leadership, was then routed.

Some stories claim that Heracles killed Augeas in battle, and some say that the king actually died later of old age, but in either case, Heracles placed Phyleus on the throne of Elis. In one version of the story, Heracles would then found an athletic festival to honour his father Zeus, and so the Olympic Games were created.

Ultimately the impossible task assigned to Heracles had proved to be not so impossible for the greatest of Greek heroes.