GORDIAN KNOT

GORDIAN KNOT, a knot by which the yoke was fastened to the beam of the chariot of Gordius, and which no one could untie except the man who was destined to be the conqueror of Asia; Alexander the Great being ambitious to achieve this feat, tried hard to undo it, but failing, cut it with his sword and marched on to conquest.

The expression 'Gordian Knot' is also used as a metaphor to describe a very difficult, or seemingly impossible problem to solve, which is then solved by quick, decisive action. The origin of the metaphor lies in legends surrounding Alexander the Great. According to stories about Alexander, King Midas of Phrygia had claimed the kingdom by fulfilling a prophecy that the next man who rode into the city on an ox-cart would become king. In gratitude for his kingship, Midas, dedicated his ox-cart to an ancient god, securing it to a post with a very difficult knot.