Gordius Knot

Sham Misri

The people of Phrygia, an ancient country of Asia Minor, were advised by the gods to choose as king the first man they met on the way to Jupiter's temple. It so happened that the farmer a peasant Gordius passed by, driving a wagon, and hailed as king to his great amazement, he dedicated his wagon to the god Jupiter.

Now Gordius is remembered for the knot by which he fixed his wagon to the temple. So cleverly was it tied that no end could be observed in the cord, and it came to be predicted that whoever could untie the Gordian knot would win the whole empire of Asia.

When Alexander the Great happened to pass that way in his conquering sweep across Asia Minor. He tried to undo the knot but was unable to solve the puzzle. Anxiously, but excitedly he drew his sword and slashed the knot in two. This daring act impressed his soldiers, who already considered Alexander as the future conqueror of Asia. We now speak of any problem solved in a drastic way as a Gordian knot.