In Greek mythology, Augeas ("bright") was King of Elis and husband of Epicaste. The stables of Augeas housed the single greatest number of cattle in the country and had never been cleaned until the great hero Heracles arrived. The cleaning of the Augean stables was to be the fifth of Heracles'Twelve Labors. Heracles was required to do it in one day; he succeeded by rerouting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus to wash the filth out. Augeas was irate at the success because he had promised Heracles one-tenth of his land if he succeeded in one day. He refused to honor the agreement and was killed by Heracles, who then gave his kingdom to Phyleus, Augeas' son, who had been exiled for supporting Heracles against his father.
