Gordian Knot

Gordian Knot
   According to Greek legend, in the ancient country of Phrygia, a peasant named Gordius was chosen to be king over the Phrygian people because an oracle had said that their troubles would end if they chose as king the first man who approached the Temple of Zeus driving a wagon. Gordius happened to be that man. To show his gratitude for the honor, he dedicated his wagon to Zeus and tied the ox yoke with a knot so cleverly formed that nobody could untie it. Gradually the legend arose that whoever could untie the knot would become ruler of all Asia. The Gordian knot stumped all comers. And then Alexander the Great heard about this puzzling situation. He went to the temple, where the legend was repeated. "Well, then," said the conqueror, "it is thus I perform the task," and so saying, he withdrew his sword from its scabbard and slashed through the knot, cutting it in two.
   A. T. Pierson in 1891 did not give Alexander credit for his hastiness. "Alexander cut the Gordian knot," quipped Pierson, "which he had not the skill, patience, or strength to untie." To resolve an intricate problem or task with a single decisive step is expressed by the phrase to cut the Gordian knot.

Dictionary of eponyms. . 2013.

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  • Gordian knot — [gôr′dē ən] n. 1. Gr. Legend a knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, which an oracle reveals will be undone only by the future master of Asia: Alexander the Great, failing to untie it, cuts the knot with his sword 2. any perplexing problem cut… …   Universalium

  • Gordian knot — Gordian Gor di*an, a. 1. Pertaining to Gordius, king of Phrygia, or to a knot tied by him; hence, intricate; complicated; inextricable. [1913 Webster] {Gordian knot}, an intricate knot tied by Gordius in the thong which connected the pole of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gordian knot — [gôr′dē ən] n. 1. Gr. Legend a knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, which an oracle reveals will be undone only by the future master of Asia: Alexander the Great, failing to untie it, cuts the knot with his sword 2. any perplexing problem cut… …   English World dictionary

  • Gordian knot — ► NOUN (in phrase cut the Gordian knot) ▪ solve a difficult problem in a direct or forceful way. ORIGIN from the legendary knot tied by Gordius, king of Gordium, and cut through by Alexander the Great in response to the prophecy that whoever… …   English terms dictionary

  • Gordian knot — 1560s, tied by Gordius, king of Phrygia in Asia Minor, who predicted the one to loosen it would rule Asia. Instead, Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot with his sword; hence the extended sense (1570s in English) solve a difficult problem in… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Gordian Knot — For other uses, see Gordian Knot (disambiguation). Alexander cuts the Gordian Knot, by Jean Simon Berthélemy (1743–1811) The Gordian Knot is a legend of Phrygian Gordium associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor …   Wikipedia

  • Gordian Knot — Это статья о компьютерной программе. О легенде см. Гордиев узел Gordian Knot скриншот Gordian Knot …   Википедия

  • Gordian Knot — En este artículo sobre informática se detectaron los siguientes problemas: Necesita ser wikificado conforme a las convenciones de estilo de Wikipedia. Carece de fuentes o referencias que aparezcan en una fuente acreditada. Parece ser una… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Gordian knot — Gor|di|an knot [ˌgo:diən ˈnɔt US ˌgo:rdiən ˈna:t] n [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: From a complicated knot tied by Gordius, king of ancient Phrygia, which Alexander the Great cut through with his sword] cut/untie the Gordian knot to quickly solve a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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