The Gordian Knot
The Gordian Knot is a very known metaphor, which originated in the times of ancient Greece. The legend tells of a simple peasant named Gordian, who became king of the Phrygians, and tied his oxcart to the palace as an offering to Zeus. The knot was so complex to no one could unravel it, and a local oracle had foretold that whomever unties it would conquer the whole of Asia.
Centuries had passed till one day Alexander the Great, the mighty Macedonian king, arrived at Phrygia on his way to fight the Persians, who posed a serious threat on Greece at the time. When hearing of the prophecy, Alexander tried his best to unlock the old knot, but to no avail. He could not find any rope ends! Being somewhat impatient, Alexander swung his sword and sliced the rope in half.
Over the next few years, Alexander had lived up to the prophecy. His army had made it all the way to India, and his empire spun thousands of miles across. However, in facing the the Indian warriors, who came to battle mounting elephants, Alexander suffered many drawbacks. Eventually, he died of fever at the young age of 31.
What lesson are we to learn from the Gordian Knot metaphor? One version tells us that we should employ enticing "shortcuts", as these eventually end in disaster. A different point of view claims that sometimes bold decisions are needed in complex situations.
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