Gordian Knot facts for kids
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The Gordian Knot is a famous legend from an ancient place called Phrygia, which is now part of modern-day Turkey. This story is closely connected to Alexander the Great, a famous ancient king and military leader. The term "Gordian Knot" is often used today as a way to describe a really tough problem that seems impossible to solve. It means finding a clever or unexpected way to fix a problem quickly, instead of trying to untangle all its complicated parts.
Contents
The Legend of the Gordian Knot
How Gordias Became King
Long ago, the people of Phrygia didn't have a king. They asked an oracle (a special priest or priestess who could tell the future) for advice. The oracle told them that the very next man who entered their city driving an ox-cart would become their new king. Soon after, a simple farmer named Gordias arrived in the city with his ox-cart. Just as the oracle predicted, he was immediately made king!
The Special Knot
Gordias was very thankful for becoming king. His son, Midas, decided to honor the god Sabazios (who the Greeks thought was like their god Zeus). Midas dedicated the ox-cart to the god and tied it to a post using a very complex knot. This knot was made from the bark of a cornel tree. It was said to be so tightly tangled that it was impossible to see how it was fastened.
Alexander and the Prophecy
Centuries later, in the 300s BC, the ox-cart was still in the palace of the former kings in Gordium. By this time, Phrygia was a province of the powerful Persian Empire. A new prophecy spread that whoever could untie this incredibly complicated knot was destined to rule all of Asia.
When Alexander the Great arrived in Gordium, he heard about the knot and its prophecy. He wanted to untie it, but he struggled. The knot was truly impossible to loosen in the usual way.
Alexander's Clever Solution
Alexander thought about the problem. He decided that it didn't matter how the knot was untied, only that it was. So, he famously drew his sword and sliced the knot in half with one swift cut! This bold move showed his determination and clever thinking.
There is another version of the story. Some ancient writers say that Alexander didn't cut the knot. Instead, they claim he pulled out the linchpin (a small pin that holds the yoke to the cart). This would have loosened the knot, allowing him to untie it easily without cutting. Both stories agree that Alexander faced the challenge, but his exact method is debated.
After this event, Alexander went on to conquer a huge empire, reaching as far as the Indus River in India and the Amu Darya river. This seemed to fulfill the prophecy that whoever untied the knot would rule Asia.
See also
In Spanish: Nudo gordiano para niños
