How Do You Spell AUGEAS?

Pronunciation: [ˈɔːd͡ʒi͡əz] (IPA)

Correct spelling for the English word "Augeas" is [ˈɔːd͡ʒi͡əz], [ˈɔːd‍ʒi‍əz], [ˈɔː_dʒ_iə_z] (IPA phonetic alphabet).

AUGEAS Meaning and Definition

1. Augeas, in Greek mythology, was a prominent figure primarily known for his association with the Heracles' (Hercules in Roman mythology) fifth labor—the cleaning of the Augean stables. According to the myth, Augeas was the king of Elis and the son of Helios, the sun god, and either of the Oceanids, Sterope or Nausidame. He was renowned for his vast herds of cattle, sheep, and goats, which were housed in the Augean stables.

   The Augean stables, however, had not been cleaned for three decades, resulting in an excessive accumulation of filth. Hercules was tasked with the labor of cleaning the stables, but instead of performing the Herculean task using sheer physical strength, he cleverly diverted two rivers, Alpheus and Peneus, to sweep through and rinse the stables clean. This stratagem enabled Hercules to complete the daunting task within a single day.

   As a result of this feat, Augeas became synonymous with an enormous amount of dirt or a severely cluttered situation that requires a monumental effort to rectify. The term "Augean" is often used metaphorically to describe an excessively arduous or seemingly insurmountable undertaking. Augeas stands as a symbol of the transformative power of ingenuity and resourcefulness in the face of seemingly impossible challenges.

Common Misspellings for AUGEAS

• augeeas

Etymology of AUGEAS

The word "Augeas" is derived from Greek mythology. In Greek, the name is spelled Αὐγίας (Augías). Augeas was a mythical king of Elis, a region in ancient Greece. He was known for his vast herds of cattle and his failure to maintain their stables. Augeas' stables had not been cleaned for many years, and the accumulation of manure and waste had become a massive and unsolvable problem.

The mythical hero Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology) was tasked with cleaning these extremely filthy stables as one of his twelve labors. Heracles accomplished the task by diverting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus to wash out the stables in a single day, successfully completing a seemingly impossible feat.