Alexander the Great’s Cut of the Gordian Knot: A Timeless Problem-Solving Symbol

Alexander the Great and the Gordian Knot. Credit: Public Domain

The legendary cutting of the Gordian Knot by Alexander the Great became a metaphor for solving hard problems by employing simple, drastic solutions.

Today, the Gordian Knot operation is utilized arsenic a awesome of complexity, and “cutting the Gordian Knot” means uncovering a originative solution to a seemingly insurmountable problem.

One tin accidental that the modern operation “thinking retired of the box” has its roots successful the legendary bold, originative determination of Alexander. It was 333 BC erstwhile the King of Macedon entered Phrygia and went to the Temple of Zeus. He witnessed the ox cart tied up with the celebrated intricate knot.

The Phrygian Myth of the Gordian Knot

Phrygia was a kingdom situated successful today’s Turkey. According to Phrygian tradition, determination was a wagon situated astatine the Temple of Zeus that erstwhile belonged to Gordius, the begetter of the celebrated King Midas.

Gordius was a mediocre husbandman who 1 time entered Phrygia with his woman connected his ox cart. An oracle had predicted that the caller king of Phrygia would get connected a wagon. When Gordius was seen, the Phrygians assumed helium was the antheral to whom they oracle had referred, riding successful connected his ox cart. Hence, they made him king.

In gratitude, Gordius dedicated his wagon to the Temple of Zeus and tied it with a analyzable knot with its extremity hidden. According to Ancient Greek historiographer Arrian, the Gordian Knot was “several knots each truthful tightly entangled that it was intolerable to spot however they were fastened.”

Another oracle had declared that the antheral who could unravel its elaborate knots was destined to go ruler of each of Asia.

The Greek king studied the knot for a portion and attempted to untie it. He past pulled retired his sword and swiftly chopped it. He chose this solution implicit spending hours painstakingly attempting to untangle the knot.

It was an unexpected, decisive enactment that solved a puzzle  that nary antheral proved capable to lick up to that day.

For Alexander the Great, the Gordian Knot was 1 of galore obstacles encountered during his glorious run successful Asia. Yet, it was 1 of the fewer that stood retired and carried his sanction to eternity.

Arrian described the infinitesimal Alexander encountered the wagon: “He was seized with an ardent tendency to untie the (Gordian) knot.” After a while, helium stepped backmost from the wide of ropes and said, “It makes nary quality however they are loosed.” He past drew his sword and sliced the knot successful fractional with a stroke.

This was a determination of intelligence genius and it proved that the quality caput tin beryllium mightier than the sword.

In earlier versions of the cutting of the legendary knot, Alexander recovered the ends either by cutting into the knot oregon by drafting retired the pole.

Alexander’s Thinking successful Relation to the Knot

Alexander the Great recovered it hard to unravel the knot. However, helium didn’t shy distant from the challenge. He approached it with boldness and creativity.

Once helium realized that accepted methods would fail, helium chose a brave attack and swiftly sliced the knot with his sword erstwhile and for all. It was an unconventional solution to a uncommon problem.

The cutting of the Gordian Knot successful Phrygia occurred successful the opening of Alexander’s glorious run successful Asia. What followed was the conquest of a immense portion of the world, thing nary antheral earlier him had achieved.

This was an accomplishment that wouldn’t person been imaginable if it hadn’t been for his unconventional, creative, bold reasoning erstwhile faced with the legendary knot.