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The Legend


         In ancient Phrygia, the people found themselves without a king. According to legend, an oracle at Telmissus decreed to the Phrygians that the next man to enter the city driving an ox-cart should become their king. Then a poor peasant, Midas, happened along into town with his father Gordias and his mother, riding on his father's ox-cart. He was declared a king by the priests. Out of gratitude, Midas dedicated his father's ox-cart to the Phrygian god Sabazios, and either tied it to a post or tied its shaft with an intricate knot of cornel bark. Once more the oracle made a prophecy: the one to untie the knot would become the king of Asia.

         The ox-cart was a symbol of power and constant military readiness. Until the fourth century BC, it stood in the palace of Phrygia at Gordium. By the time Alexander arrived Phrygia had been reduced to a province of the Persian Empire.

         While wintering at Gordium in 333 BC, Alexander attempted to untie the knot. When he could find no end to unbind it, he sliced it in half with a stroke of his sword, producing the required ends (hence the so-called "Alexandrian solution"). Although this is disputed, Alexander did go on to conquer Asia, fulfilling the prophecy.

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