Augean Stables
the stables of Augeas, king of Elis. Three thousand oxen had been kept here for thirty years. The cleansing of these stables formed one of the twelve labors of Hercules. It was performed by him in a single day. The words, "Augean Stables," have come to be used figuratively for an excessive accumulation of filth. The expression is also used to describe corrupt political conditions, implying that the remedy is almost beyond human power. See Hercules 2026 Editor's Note: 'Cleaning the Augean stables' is still the go-to phrase for tackling an overwhelming mess of accumulated filth or corruption — a reformer's favorite metaphor. Hercules did it by diverting two rivers through them, the ancient world's image of a problem solved by sheer ingenious force. (Ed: BR 2026-06-12)
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Augila
An oasis in the Great Desert of Africa, ten days' journey west of the Oasis of Ammon, abounding in date palms. Augustus, Octavianus Caesar . Emperor of Rome, was son of Octavius, a senator, and Accia, sister to Julius Caesar. He was associated in the triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus, and defeated the armies of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi . Octavia , the sister of Augustus, married Antony after the death of his wife Fulvia . Octavia, however, was slighted for the charms of Cleopatra , which incensed Augustus, who took up arms to avenge the wrongs of his sister, and at the great battle of Actium, B. C. 31, the forces c Antony and Cleopatra suffered a disastrous defeat. 2026 Editor's Note: Augila is an oasis town in northeastern Libya known since classical times for its abundant date palms. The Nasamones , a nomadic Berber tribe, migrated seasonally to Augila to harvest dates and utilize its water springs. (Ed: BR 2026-06-11)
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Augite
an important mineral, interesting from its geological as well as its mineralogical relations. Dana applies the name to the greenish or brownishblack and black kinds of aluminous pyroxene, found chiefly in eruptive, but sometimes also in metamorphic, rocks. When altered into hornblende it is called tralite. 23-Vol. I-Cyc
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Augsburg
CONFESSION OF Augite was once suspected by many mineralogists to be essentially the same mineral as hornblende, differing only in this respect, that the former species resulted from rapid and the latter from slow cooling. But Dana separates the two, regarding hornblende as an aluminous variety of amphibole and not of pyroxene. Both are found in modern and in ancient volcanic products.
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Augsburg (City of south Germany capital)
a city of south Germany, capital of Suabia, in the former Kingdom of Bavaria. It is situated on a large and fertile plain watered by the rivers Wertach and Lech, 35 miles N. W. of Munich. Augsburg was for ages one of the richest, most commer cial and powerful of the free cities of the German Empire. Among noted buildings are the cathedral, arsenal, Abbey of St. Ulric, and the town hall, one of the finest edifices in Germany. Augsburg's greatest commercial importance arose from its being, next to Frankfort, the chief seat of banking and exchange operations in central Europe. A large trade is carried on in engraving, printing and bookselling. Augsburg was once of much greater population and importance than it is at present. It was founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus, 12 B. C. In the Middle Ages it became early distinguished for its trade, and in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries attained to almost regal power and opulence. Augsburg has been the theater of many memorable events. In addition to the proceedings of the Diet, with respect to the memorable confession of faith, there, in 1530, was concluded the peace which guaranteed the full enjoyment of their rights and liberties to the Protestants. Augsburg continued to be a free city until 1806, when Napoleon ceded it to Bavaria. Pop. about 125,000.
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Augsburg (CONFESSION OF the name given)
CONFESSION OF, the name given to the celebrated declaration of faith, compiled by Melanchthon, and revised by Luther and other reformers, which was read before the Diet of Augsburg, June 25, 1530. It consisted of 28 articles, seven of which contained refutations of Roman Catholic errors, and the remaining 21 set forth the leading tenets of the Lutheran creed. Soon after its promulgation, the last hope of inducing the Pontiff to reform the Roman Catholic Church was abandoned, and the complete severance of the connection followed. An answer by the Roman Catholics was read Aug. 3, 1530; when the Diet declared that it had been refuted. Melanchthon then drew up a somewhat different confession. The first is called the unaltered, the second the altered confession.
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Augsburg (DIET OF the most celebrated)
DIET OF, the most celebrated of the numerous diets, or parliaments, held at Augsburg, convened in 1530. Pope Clement VII. refusing to call a general council for the settlement of all religious disputes, the Emperor Charles V. summoned another diet at Augsburg, which met on June 20, 1530. On the 25th the famous "Confession" was read, and on Aug. 3 an answer was made by the Roman Catholics, whereupon it was proclaimed that the Protestants must conform in all points to the Church of Rome. Charles V. soon after delivered his decision, in which he gave the Protestants till April 15, 1531, to reunite themselves to the Mother Church. The Emperor engaged to induce the Pope to summon a national or general council and later announced his intention to execute the edict of Worms, made some severe enactments against the Protestants, and reconstituted the Imperial Chamber.
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Augsburg (LEAGUE OF a league entered)
LEAGUE OF, a league entered into and concluded at Augsburg, July 9, 1686, for the maintenance of the treaties of Münster and Nimeguen, and the truce of Ratisbon. It was negotiated by William, Prince of Orange, on June 21, in the above year, for the purpose of resisting the encroachments of France. The contracting parties were the Emperor Leopold I., the Kings of Spain and Sweden, the Electors of Saxony and Bavaria, and the Circles of Suabia, Franconia, Upper Saxony and Bavaria. The league was to be in force for three years, and might then be renewed. England acceded to it in 1689.
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