Heracles Labors: The Stables of Augeas.
     A son of Helios, King Augeas of Elis in the Peloponnese owned vast herds of cattle, which he kept in stables that had never been cleaned. For his sixth labor (sometimes called the fifth), Eurystheus commanded Heracles (Hercules) to clean the stables, which were bringing sterility to the land. Heracles agreed with Augeas to cleanse the stables in exchange for one-tenth of the herd. He accomplished the task by diverting water from the Alpheus and Peneus rivers so that they flowed through the outbuildings. Augeas then reneged on his part of the bargain and expelled Heracles and his own son Phyleus, who had sided with the hero. After Heracles had completed the rest of his labors, he returned to Elis and killed Augeas, putting Phyleus on the throne in his place.
     In a parergon to this labor, Heracles established the Olympic Games, to be held at Olympia (Elis' sacred precinct) in honor of Zeus every four years. This distinction, however, has been alternately given to Heracles the Dactyl, of Mount Ida.

Further Reference:
Galinsky, G. Karl. 1972. The Herakles Theme: The Adaptations of the Hero in Literature from Homer to the Twentieth Century. Totowa, N.J., Rowman & Littlefield.


Listings for Heracles' Labors are arranged under the following headings:
Heracles Labors, General List
The Nemean Lion
The Lernean Hydra
The Erymanthian Boar
The Ceryneian Hind
The Stymphalian Birds
The Stables of Augeas
Heracles and Antaeus
The Cretan Bull
The Mares of Diomedes
The Girdle of Hippolyta
The Cattle of Geryon
The Apples of the Hesperides
Cerberus

For Heracles entries generally:
Heracles