Copreus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Greek mythology, Copreus was King Eurystheus' herald. He announced Heracles' Twelve Labors. Copreus was said to be a son of Pelops and Hippodameia; he himself had a son named Periphetes, who features in the Iliad as an honorable warrior. By contrast, Copreus is disparaged by ancient mythographers (including Homer) as a worthless coward, and his name is usually translated as 'dung man', or something equally unflattering. However, the name 'Copreus' may originally have had more positive connotations, meaning 'grazier' or 'man of the land', and been associated with the ownership of cattle - rather than just their dung.