What did the Gordian Knot look like?

Posted on: 01/23/2010 12:32

What do you think the Gordian Knot looked like?

Wikipedia reports that,

In 333 BC, while wintering at Gordium, Alexander the Great attempted to untie the knot. When he could find no end to the knot, to unbind it, he sliced it in half with a stroke of his sword, producing the required ends (the so-called "Alexandrian solution").

I have always imagined that the knot would look something like this image on the right, a giant ball of thick rope with no end in sight.

It's interesting to note that the Lenzr photo contest Everyday Tangled Web is asking for, and displaying, modern Gordian Knots, the technological advanced chaos of cables and cords. And amazingly, the prize in that contest is a wireless headset that has been donated by a business phone systems sponsor to help engineer a clutter free workspace.

So the modern translation of the Alexandrian Solution is a bluetooth wireless headset.

roberrific's blog

Comments

somegirl

Posted on: 01/24/2010 22:43

Wow, that is really cool. As a knitter, I'm a little facincated with tangles. I pull my yarn from the middle of the skein and sometimes end up with wonderful tangles that it can take some time to undo. My goal is to undo them without having to put the end through a loop, which you should be able to do, the way it is wound.

I wish that I had a picture of the time that I tried to use a skein of pure wool without winding it into a ball first. It took me days to untangle it and I had to put the end through many times. It would have been a great submission.

The_Omnissiah

Posted on: 02/03/2010 02:23

Hahah "Alexandrian solution"...that is a way better name for the curling move we call "Plan B"...(Throw as hard as you can down the centre of the ice and hope for the best...only used when your absolutely screwed).

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

roberrific

Posted on: 03/21/2010 10:02

Since I have written this post I have heard the term 'Alexandrian solution' mentioned a dozen times and I'm thinking I'd like to do something that people could label as such, but I cant... I just never get a chance. Most times I think you have to have one hundred thousand soldiers camped behind you before you can force an Alexandrian solution on anyone.