Editing Copreus (herald of Eurystheus)

{{Other uses|Copreus (mythology)}}

In [[Greek mythology]], '''Copreus''' ([[Ancient Greek]]: Κοπρεύς, ''Kopreús'') was King [[Eurystheus]]' herald who announced [[Heracles]]' [[Twelve Labours]].

== Etymology ==
His name is usually translated as "dung man", or something equally unflattering.<ref>Robin Hard. ''The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology (2004)''<br /></ref> 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 (κόπρος).

== Mythology ==
Copreus was said to be a son of [[Pelops]] and [[Hippodameia]]. He was a fugitive from [[Ancient Elis|Elis]] where he had killed a man called [[Iphitus]], but Eurystheus purified him of the murder.<ref>"He sent his commands for the labours through a herald, Copreus, son of Pelops the Eleian. This Copreus had killed Iphitus and fled to Mycenae, where he was purified by Eurystheus and took up his abode."  (Pseudo-Apollodorus, ''[[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Bibliotheke]]'' 2.5.1).</ref> Copreus had a son named [[Periphetes]], who features briefly in the ''[[Iliad]]'' as a well-loved warrior speared by [[Hector]].<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'' 15.638</ref> By contrast, Copreus is disparaged by [[Homer]]:
{|
|
: So of a sire much baser an excellent son was begotten
: better in prowess of every sort, on his feet and in battle<ref>''Iliad'' 15.641f</ref>
|}

== Notes ==
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== References ==
* [[Homer]], [[Iliad|''The Iliad'']] with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, Ph.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1924. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.]
* Homer, ''Homeri Opera'' in five volumes. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1920. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0133 Greek text available at the Perseus Digital Library].
* [[Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus)|Pseudo-Apollodorus]], ''The Library'' with an English Translation by Sir James George Frazer, F.B.A., F.R.S. in 2 Volumes, Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0022 Online version at the Perseus Digital Library.] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0021 Greek text available from the same website].

[[Category:Characters in Greek mythology]]


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