Augean

/ɔːˈdʒiːən/ adjective

Definition

Extremely filthy or corrupt; requiring heroic effort to clean up (from Greek mythology's Augean stables).

Etymology

From Greek mythology, referring to King Augeas's stables, which housed thousands of cattle and hadn't been cleaned in 30 years. Hercules had to clean them as one of his Twelve Labors.

Kelly Says

The Augean stables are mythology's ultimate gross-out—Hercules solved the problem by diverting a river, teaching us that sometimes you need creative solutions for impossible messes!

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