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Antoninus Pius Æ Drachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 10 = AD 146/7. Labours of Hercules type. ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤѠΝЄΙΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ ЄVϹ, laureate head to right / The Labor of the Augean Stables: Hercules, nude but for lion skin over shoulder, standing before the Augean Stables; a mattock lays before him, with which he has diverted the river waters (depicted as streaming from a human head within the stables) into the stables; L ΔЄΚΑΤΟV (date) in left field. RPC IV.4 Online 13593 (temporary); Dattari (Savio) 2606; Emmett 1539. 22.40g, 34mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine; an excellent example of the type.
Thereupon King Eurystheus sent him upon the fifth labour, which was one little worthy of a hero. It was to clean the stables of Augeas in a single day. Augeas was king in Elis and had great herds of cattle. These herds were kept, according to the custom, in a great enclosure before the palace. Three thousand cattle were housed there, and as the stables had not been cleaned for many years, so much manure had accumulated that it seemed an insult to ask Hercules to clean them in one day.
When the hero stepped before King Augeas and without telling him anything of the demands of Eurystheus, and pledged himself to the task, the latter measured the noble form in the lion-skin and could hardly refrain from laughing when he thought of so worthy a warrior undertaking so menial a work. But he said to himself: Necessity has driven many a brave man; perhaps this one wishes to enrich himself through me. That will help him little. I can promise him a large reward if he cleans out the stables, for he can in one day clear little enough."
Then he spoke confidently: "Listen, O stranger. If you clean all of my stables in one day, I will give over to you the tenth part of all my possessions in cattle." Hercules accepted the offer, and the king expected to see him begin to shovel. But Hercules, after he had called the son of Augeas to witness the agreement, tore the foundations away from one side of the stables; directed to it by means of a canal the streams of Alpheus and Peneus that flowed near by; and let the waters carry away the filth through another opening. So he accomplished the menial work without stooping to anything unworthy of an immortal.
When Augeas learned that this work had been done in the service of Eurystheus, he refused the reward and said that he had not promised it; but he declared himself ready to have the question settled in court. When the judges were assembled, Phyleus, commanded by Hercules to appear, testified against his father, and explained how he had agreed to offer Hercules a reward. Augeas did not wait for the decision; he grew angry and commanded his son as well as the stranger to leave his kingdom instantly."
Good Very Fine; an excellent example of the type.
Thereupon King Eurystheus sent him upon the fifth labour, which was one little worthy of a hero. It was to clean the stables of Augeas in a single day. Augeas was king in Elis and had great herds of cattle. These herds were kept, according to the custom, in a great enclosure before the palace. Three thousand cattle were housed there, and as the stables had not been cleaned for many years, so much manure had accumulated that it seemed an insult to ask Hercules to clean them in one day.
When the hero stepped before King Augeas and without telling him anything of the demands of Eurystheus, and pledged himself to the task, the latter measured the noble form in the lion-skin and could hardly refrain from laughing when he thought of so worthy a warrior undertaking so menial a work. But he said to himself: Necessity has driven many a brave man; perhaps this one wishes to enrich himself through me. That will help him little. I can promise him a large reward if he cleans out the stables, for he can in one day clear little enough."
Then he spoke confidently: "Listen, O stranger. If you clean all of my stables in one day, I will give over to you the tenth part of all my possessions in cattle." Hercules accepted the offer, and the king expected to see him begin to shovel. But Hercules, after he had called the son of Augeas to witness the agreement, tore the foundations away from one side of the stables; directed to it by means of a canal the streams of Alpheus and Peneus that flowed near by; and let the waters carry away the filth through another opening. So he accomplished the menial work without stooping to anything unworthy of an immortal.
When Augeas learned that this work had been done in the service of Eurystheus, he refused the reward and said that he had not promised it; but he declared himself ready to have the question settled in court. When the judges were assembled, Phyleus, commanded by Hercules to appear, testified against his father, and explained how he had agreed to offer Hercules a reward. Augeas did not wait for the decision; he grew angry and commanded his son as well as the stranger to leave his kingdom instantly."