The Gordian Knot

The Gordian Knot has come to represent the difficult, intractable or unsolvable problem. Legend has it that at the end of a prosperous reign, the King of Phrygia died without an heir. The Phrygians were distraught without a leader and sent an emissary to the Oracle at Delphi to request a prophesy. The Oracle told the emissary that the next king would arrive with a cart drawn by oxen. Shortly thereafter, Gordius and his wife arrived in Phrygia in an oxen-drawn wagon. In view of the Oracle's prophesy, the elders made Gordius king. Gordius dedicated his wagon to the deity of the Oracle and tied his wagon to a post in front of his palace with an enormous and complicated knot.

Gordius ruled well for many years. After some time, Gordius' son Midas took the throne and Phrygia prospered, When Midas stepped down from the throne, he also left no heir apparent. Once again, without a leader, the people of Phrygia sent an emissary to the Oracle at Delphi in search of a prophesy. This time, the Oracle declared that he who untied the knot tied by Gordius would be the next ruler. Many years passed, and many men tried to unravel the Gordian Knot, but none succeeded.

One day, Alexander the Great travelled to Phrygia with his large army. First, he attempted to untie the Gordian Knot like everyone else. When it became apparent that conventional means would be unsuccessful, Alexander drew his sword and sliced the knot in half. The elders of Phyrgia crowned Alexander as their King despite his unconventional solution.