Copreus

In Greek mythology, Copreus (Κοπρεύς) was King Eurystheus' herald. He announced Heracles' Twelve Labors. Copreus was said to be a son of Pelops and Hippodameia. He was a fugitive from Elis where he had killed a man called Iphitus, but Eurystheus purified him of the murder. He had a son named Periphetes, who features briefly in the Iliad as a well-loved warrior speared by Hector or killed by Teucer. By contrast, Copreus is disparaged by Homer:

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 (κόπρος).

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