Gordian Knot

Greek mythology.

An intricate knot tied in a rope by King Gordius of Phrygia. According to prophecy, whoever could untie the knot would rule Asia. No one could do it until Alexander the Great cut the knot with his sword.

The phrase "cutting the Gordian knot" means solving a problem in an unorthodox manner.

A Progressive Rock band, founded by Sean Malone, previously of Cynic. Other band members include Trey Gunn, Sean Reinert, Ron Jarzombek and Glenn Snelwar. As of writing of this node, they have released a self-titled album, and the second album is already in the works. The music itself is intricate and amazingly technical. All of the songs are instrumental, however. This is not really a problem though, as they are complex enough to keep anyone interested in this type of music fascinated for a long time.

In the city of Gordium, there was a knot. Gordium was the Capital of Phrygia, and lay near where Ankara lies today. In this city was also an ox-cart. An ox-cart of which an oracle had once spoken, on which an eagle had once landed, and in which a peasant had once ridden and been made king for it. You get the drift. On the shaft of this ox-cart, the knot was tied. It was perplexing. It was confounding. It was mind-boggling. Let's just say it was really really really difficult to untie. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this was the fabled Gordian Knot, and who-so-ever untied it, so legend said, would become king of Asia.

Well, in 333 BC Alexander the Great made his way down the Persian Royal Road, and happened upon Gordium, and with it the Gordian Knot. Now Alexander, being a man of great ambition, tried to untie the Gordian Knot. And failed. Alexander, being also a man's man, drew his sword an cleft the knot in two, thereby untying it. It must have worked, seeing as how Alexander went on to conquer Asia minor.

Something may be referred to as a Gordian Knot if it seems to be without a solution

 our sorrow is not that of the soul

our knot not the gordian

but the shoelace

which comes undone

and we know not how to tie it.