The Gordian Knot
Gordium was a small, seemingly unimportant town. Alexander's venture to it shows either that he himself was superstitious or that he was aware of the value of superstitions to his men in improving their loyalty to him.
The Legend
The Phygrians did not have a king and so the Oracle at Telmissus, the ancient capital of Phygria, said that the next man to enter the city who was driving an ox-cart shall become king. This person was a peasant farmer named Gordias who was declared king by the priests of the city upon his arrival. In gratitude, Gordias' son, Midas, dedicated the ox-cart that his father had been on to the Phygrian god Sabazios (who was seen in Greek as Zeus) and tied its shaft with an intricate knot of Cornel bark.
ArrianGives the history of the Gordian Knot, including where it came from and relating it to prophecy. Says that he does not want to say too much about this though. Claims that Alexander simply cuts the knot with his sword. Says that thunder and lightning take place, a symbol of Zeus' approval.
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PlutarchClaims Alexander untied the knot which connected King Midas' chariot to the bark of the cornel-tree. It was said that whoever untied the knot was destined to become ruler of the whole world. Alexander did not know what to do so cut through the knot. Aristobulus claimed that Alexander removed the pin which secured the yoke to the pole of the chariot, and then pulling out the yoke itself.
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