Historiae Romanorum

The Cattle of Augeias

As the fifth of the twelve labors, Eurystheus ordered Heracles to clean the fields of king Augeias without help in one day.  Since Augeias knew nothing of Eurystheus' order, Heracles first went to the king and said he would clean the stables for a price: one-tenth of his cattle.  Augeias quickly agreed, believing the task impossible.  Augeias' son Phyleus acted as witness.

Heracles then diverted the flow of two nearby rivers, cleaning off the dung from all of the land.  When he returned to Augeias and demanded his pay, the king refused, saying that he had made no such promise.  The matter was taken to court, in which Phyleus testified against his father.  Augeias became angry at this betrayal, and drove both Heracles and his eldest son Phyleus from the city.  Phyleus eventually settle in Doulichion.

When Heracles returned to Tiryns, Eurystheus refused to accept this labor.  He said that since Heracles had worked for pay, it did not count.

Source(s):

1. Apollodorus.  Bibliotece.

This page was last updated on July 21, 2004.