What is the meaning of the phraseological unit "Augean stables"?

As we know, one of the labors of Hercules was precisely to clear the stables of manure that had not been removed for a long time, which turned out to be a very difficult task. Currently, this phraseological unit is used as a solution to numerous long-standing issues.

Augean stables - this phraseological unit is still used today; it means strong disorder, chaos, neglect in work. It is difficult to clean a stable with manure that has been accumulating there for decades, and it is also difficult to sort out many old matters, not only about cleaning.

In one of the 12 labors, Hercules cleared the stables of King Augeas by breaking the wall and sending two rivers into them. The myths describe that manure was not removed from these stables for thirty years. And it was not horses that lived there, but several thousand bulls, so it would be more correct to call these premises not stables, but barns. However, it was the Augean stables that became a popular expression. It is used to describe extreme disorder.

Cleaning the Augean stables was the sixth labor of Hercules, the ancient Greek hero-demigod, which is not surprising, since King Augean had not cleaned his stables for so long that they became extremely dirty. Thus, the expression denotes a matter that requires painstaking and lengthy resolution, which is complex and difficult.

Augean stables - this phraseological unit in our time means great neglect in business, great disorder. The Greek king Augeas had many horses, loved them very much and had about three thousand of them in the stables; no one was able to restore order in these stables. Until the king hired the strongman Hercules, who turned the river into the stable and all the dirt was carried away by the flow of water.

The expression Augean stables, which has become a phraseological unit firmly established in Russian speech, has its roots in Ancient Greece, namely, in mythology. As you know, Hercules, the famous ancient Greek hero-demigod, performed a dozen valiant deeds. Clearing the Augean stables was the sixth feat on this list.

According to the myth, King Augeas had many horses, and his stables were hopelessly neglected, extremely polluted with the dung of the king’s horses. The success of such a complex task as clearing the stables seemed impossible, but Hercules managed to achieve it. It was not physical force that had to be used, but resourcefulness and cunning.

Today, Augean stables refer to a neglected state of affairs, problems and work that have accumulated over a long period of time, and sometimes a very dirty room.

The matter is very ancient. Covered in a web of history and mythology. According to one legend, King Augeis was an avid horse breeder, just a fan - there were about three thousand horses in his personal stables. However, for some unknown reason, no one cleaned these stables for 30 years, the place was constantly vacant. And when Hercules tried to make an image for himself, that is, to become famous in the field of exploits, the king instructed him to clean them out. Hercules brought the Althea River inside the stables and the flow of water washed away all the horse excrement. Since then, the expression Augean stables has been used to refer to any very neglected business or contaminated object. That is, completely filthy. Absolutely.

This expression came into our lives from the myths of Ancient Greece. There was one demigod named Hercules, an incredible strongman. He was known for having accomplished 12 feats that were considered beyond the power of man. So one of these feats was the clearing of the stables of King Augeas. Augeas was a great lover of horses and kept three thousand horses in the stables, and for exactly thirty years no one cleaned up after them, so that the stables were overgrown to the very roof. Only Hercules could cope with cleaning the stables, but that’s not the point. The expression itself has come to mean long-neglected work that has been accumulating for years, but which the time has suddenly come to do. Dealing with such a messy case is sometimes no easier than cleaning out real stables. It is in this sense that the expression is used in the modern world.

The phraseology Augean stables originates in the myths of Ancient Greece. One of the labors of Hercules (Hercules) was associated specifically with clearing the stables of King Augeas, which were overgrown with manure almost to the roof. To cope with the task, Hercules had to change the course of the river, using its current to wash away the accumulated sewage. There is no need to admire Hercules’ ingenuity, since the damage to the environment was enormous.

Nowadays the expression Augean stables is used mainly when someone has to move a mountain of seemingly overwhelming tasks that have been put off for a long time until better times.

Less commonly, this expression is used to denote a dirty, neglected place or to denote extremely neglected affairs.

do the dirty work that has been building up for decades. It's pitiful in one fell swoop

First, let's remember a little who was who.

There was the sun god Helios, he is most often depicted with a crown on his head, similar to the rays of the rising sun. Helios had many sons from different wives, one of the most famous was Phaeton, who was destroyed by parental love. Helios indulged the whims of his beloved son and allowed him to get into his chariot, Phaeton could not cope with the horses and Zeus had to throw lightning at Phaeton to save the earth from fire. Phaeton died.

But Helios had two sons from Girmina, and one of them was called Augeas. His father gave Augeas a herd of beautiful bulls, but it so happened that no one cleaned the bull pen for 30 years. And at one point Hercules turned up and, on a dare, undertook to clear the pen in 24 hours. If Hercules won the argument, then he could receive a tenth of the herd. Hercules was not only a strong man, Hercules was very smart. He directed the flow of rivers into the stables and the water cleared the paddock of accumulated manure. True, Hercules won the argument, but they didn’t give him the bulls and the agreement was considered unfulfilled, because everyone expected the hero to work with his hands, but he worked with his head.

The expression Augean stables is now a popular expression and means an extremely neglected state of affairs or a very dirty room in need of general cleaning, where several people can manage, but not just one.

And the leader of the world proletariat, Vladimir Lenin, called the estates and the monarchy the Augean stables, which must be completely cleansed out.

Phraseologism Augean stables meaning

Augean stables— King Augeas lived in Ancient Greece. He was a passionate horse lover. Three thousand horses stood in his stables. However, their stalls had not been cleaned for thirty years and were overgrown with manure up to the roofs.
Fortunately, the legendary strongman Hercules (the Romans called him Hercules) entered the service of King Augeas, to whom the king instructed to clean the stables, since no one else was able to do this.
Hercules was not only powerful, but also smart. He diverted the river to the gates of the stables, and a stormy stream washed away all the dirt from there.
Expression Augean stables we use it when we want to talk about extreme neglect and pollution.

Option 2: 1. A very polluted place, a neglected room. In figurative speech: something littered with papers, books, unnecessary things not needed for work. “This opportunity happened (he did not answer the letter) because our desk represents the Augean stables and only now could I find a piece of paper.” Mussorgsky. Letter to V.V. Stasov, March 31, 1872.
2. Extreme disorder in business. “What were the main manifestations, remnants, remnants of serfdom in Russia by 1917? Monarchy, class, land ownership and use, position of women, religion, oppression of nationalities. Take any of these Augean stables... you will see that we have cleaned them clean." V. I. Lenin.
3. Clean (clean) Augean stables. “Then Kirov patted Ilyushin on the shoulder. - And you gather the fighters. I’ll come for half an hour and talk (about cleaning the regiment and mobilizing communists into the guard). Well, be healthy! Let’s clean out your Augean stables together.” G. Kholopov. Lights in the bay.
From the literal phrase Augean stables, i.e. the huge stables of Augeas, king of Elis. According to myth, these stables, which had not been cleaned for 30 years, were cleaned by Hercules in one day, channeling the waters of the stormy Alpheus River through them.
Another version:
AUGEAN STABLES. A very dirty, neglected place that requires a lot of effort to clean.
“When Raya opened the pantry once a week to clean the Augean Stables, both roosters shot bullets out and, realizing that their time in freedom was very limited, they tried to do as many dirty tricks as possible” (A. Kanevsky).
(The expression comes from Greek mythology. The Augean stables belonged to King Oedipus Augeas and were not cleaned for many years. They were cleared of manure by Hercules, who directed the river through the stables. This myth was first found by the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus in the 1st century BC)

So it was like this. The Greeks had an oligarch god, Helios. And he had a son, Augeas. And Helios gave Obadiah a whole herd of horses and many other horned animals, also selected breeds. Well, the oligarch gods have their own desires and capabilities. But Augeias was still a goofball. He didn’t care about all these herds, he was more and more specialized in girls, weed, parties and fashionable cars. Golden youth. So he didn’t see his horses and sheep, didn’t hear. And you can imagine what was going on there in their stables and barns. But then Hercules appeared. Hercules was a noisy pepper, a bodybuilder and a karateka, whose father was Zeus, an even more reckless god than Helios. Augeas and Hercules were hanging out and hanging out in the same group. And somehow Augeas, already hooked, says to Hercules: “If you, he says, are such a cool kid, cleanse my Augean stables

". And Hercules responded: “Easily. One, two, three." Well, they scored on the bottle. And Hercules freed all the stables from their offal in one day.

Characters and performers

• Helios- in the pantheon of ancient Greek gods - the radiant god of the Sun. He rushes across the sky in a fiery chariot drawn by four winged horses, and in the evening he descends into the Ocean. In his honor, the Greeks built a 30-meter-high statue of the Colossus of Rhodes. One of the seven wonders of the world
• Augeas- son of Helios, king of one of the tribes in northwestern Greece. According to legend, Hercules did not just try for Augeas, but for a tenth of the herds. Augeas agreed to the condition, but did not keep his word.
• Zeus- the supreme Greek god, lived in the sky above Mount Olympus, ruled over gods and people. He had one legal wife, Hera, and at least 17 concubines. From all of them there are many children.
• Hercules- son of Zeus and Alcmene. When Hercules was born, Zeus decided to cheat and planted him on the sleeping Hera (what he hoped for is unclear). Hera, naturally, was indignant, and at her insistence, Hercules was sent to serve Eurystheus, the king of one of the cities in the northeast of the Peloponnese peninsula and his cousin, until he completed 12 labors.
  To clear Augean stables Hercules built a dam and let the water of two rivers pass through the stables.

Cleansing the Augean stables - the fifth labor of Hercules

Augean stables. Author

The legend of Hercules cleaning the Augean stables was first voiced by the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, who lived in the first century BC. Diodorus Siculus wrote a historical work in three parts. In the first he spoke about the existing countries of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, Scythia, North Africa, Greece and Europe. The second is about the history of the world from the Trojan War to the campaigns of Alexander the Great. In the third, he continued the story, starting with the generals of Alexander and ending with the Gali campaign of Julius Caesar. The books of Diodorus Siculus are a compilation of works by more ancient authors - Polybius, Megasthenes, Herodotus and others, subjected, however, to significant literary processing.

Consider the famous phraseological unit "Augean stables" .

This phraseological unit takes us to the ancient Greek myths about Hercules.

Are given the meaning, origin and sources of phraseological units, as well as examples from the works of writers.

The meaning of phraseology

Augean Stables - a contaminated room; business is in disarray

Synonyms: disorder, unplowed field

In foreign languages ​​there are direct analogues of the phraseological unit “Augean stables”:

• Augean stables (English)
• Augiastall (German)
• écuries d'Augias (French)

Augean stables: the origin of phraseological units

It is believed that the ancient Greek hero Hercules (Hercules to the Romans) undertook to clean the stables of Augeas, king of the Greek region of Elis, in one day. According to some reports, the huge Augean stables had not been cleaned for 30 years and were overflowing with manure. And there were 3000 bulls and many goats in them.

Hercules broke the wall surrounding the barnyard on two opposite sides and diverted the water of two rivers, Alpheus and Peneus, into the resulting gaps. The stormy waters of the rivers quickly carried away all the accumulated sewage.

At this point the sixth labor could have been solemnly completed, but there was a problem. From the very beginning, Augeas agreed to give Hercules a tenth of his herds if he managed it in a day. Of course, he was sure that Hercules would not succeed. And when it happened, Augeas showed greed and refused his word to Hercules.

And in vain. Hercules is not to be trifled with. During two campaigns, he killed Augeas, his sons (except for the honest Philaeus, who recognized the justice of Hercules' demands) and some warlike relatives.

Source

This myth was first set forth by the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (1st century BC), and the expression “Augean stables” became popular in ancient times: it was used by Seneca (“Satire on the death of Emperor Claudius”), Lucian (“Alexander ") and others.

Examples from the works of writers

The favorite hero of the Greeks was Hercules, who became famous for cleaning out the Augean stables and thus giving the Greeks an unforgettable example of cleanliness. In addition, this neat guy killed his wife and children. (N.A. Teffi, “Ancient History”)

The latest, already completely encouraging, news: the re-registration of party tickets has been announced, that is, the cleaning of the Augean stables. (A. N. Tolstoy, “Walking through Torment”)

Alice hid in the low building of the laboratory to leave her bag there and change clothes, and when she came out, she angrily declared: “This is not a laboratory, but the Augean stables!”
Hercules, who was waiting for her at the entrance, did not answer anything, because he had never read Greek myths, and besides, he knew only edible words. (K. Bulychev, “A Million Adventures”)

What useful conclusion emerges from this whole story? Probably this: you need to be a really talented person to clean a room for one day evolved into a famous feat that has come down to us through many centuries in the myth and phraseology “Augean stables.”

Well, more specifically, the conclusion is that even if you are strong like Hercules, it’s still It's better to think first , and do not immediately grab the shovel.

Greetings, dear lovers of facts and other interesting things. Today we will tell you briefly about the meaning of the phraseological unit Augean Stables. We will look at where this expression came from and what it means to people in the modern world.

Origin of phraseology

The emergence of this phraseological unit dates back to the times of the ancient Greek epic, namely the famous hero named Hercules. After all, this concerns one of his twelve labors.

At that time there lived a king named Augeias, who was such a strong lover of horses that his stables numbered thousands of horses. But apparently he didn’t love them too much, since no one had cleaned these very stables for thirty years, which is why they were simply mired in huge heaps of dirt and manure.

One person would not be able to cope with this even in 100 years. To accomplish the feat, Hercules had to use not only his strength, but also his ingenuity. He let a rushing river flow into the stables, thereby washing all that dirt out of it.

By the way, among other things, King Augeis promised Heragles a tenth of his herd if he fulfilled this order, but in the end he did not keep his word.

Implications for the modern world

Despite the fact that this is just a myth, this expression is very popular in everyday life today. As a rule, the phraseological unit Augean stables is used in the following cases:

• A very dirty and untidy place in the literal sense of the word. That is, this can be said about places that are truly disgusting to step into.
• Mess. Even ordinary clutter and chaos can be called Augean stables, and it is not at all necessary that dirt be present in the literal sense of the word. This could be scattered books, sheets of paper, things, toys, etc.
• A place that hasn't been cleaned for a very long time. Even if there is no mess, but the place has been neglected for a long time and no one has cleaned it for a long time, then this expression can be quite appropriately used here.

But no matter in what context you use this phraseological unit, its essence is the same: dirt and chaos. Therefore, if you do not want it to be applied to you, then try to be neat not only yourself, but to keep all the places where you stay clean and tidy.