Coming from Greek history, the Gordian knot refers to Gordius, a poor peasant, who was mistakenly made king of the region of Phrygia. In gratitude, Gordius dedicated his oxcart to Zeus, tying it up with a peculiar knot. An oracle foretold that whoever untied the knot would rule all of Asia.
Many people tried to undo the knot but none succeeded.
In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great, undefeated but without a decisive victory either, was in need of an omen, to reassure his troops and put fear into his enemies...
In Gordium, he discovered the oxcart, which had then been there for over 100 years. Alexander climbed the hill and approached the cart.
He struggled with the knot and, becoming frustrated, declared; "What does it matter how I loose it?" With that, he drew his sword, and in one powerful stroke severed it.
That night there was a huge electrical storm; it was said that the gods were pleased that the so-called Son of Zeus had cut the Gordian Knot.