In 333 B.C. Alexander the Great had invaded Asia Minor and arrived in the central mountains at the town of Gordium; he was 23. Undefeated, but without a decisive victory either, he was in need of an omen to prove to his troops and his enemies that the outcome of his mission – to conquer the known world – was possible.
In Gordium, by the Temple of the Zeus Basilica, was an ox cart, which had been put there by the King of Phrygia over 100 years before. The staves of the cart were tied together in a complex knot with the ends tucked away inside. Legend said that whoever was able to release the knot would be successful in conquering the East. To the East lay the Kingdom of Persia, the rich centre of the civilized world, ruled by Darius III.
Having arrived at Gordium it was inconceivable that the impetuous young King would not tackle the legendary “Gordian Knot”.
His generals gathered round as he struggled with the Knot for a few minutes. Then he asked Aristander, his seer, “does it matter how I do it?”. Aristander couldn’t provide a definitive answer, so Alexander pulled out his sword and cut through the knot.
That night there was a huge electrical storm which Aristander proclaimed was the Gods’ approval of Alexander’s action and proof of both his deity and the success of their cause.
Alexander went on to defeat Darius III and Memon, his famous Greek general, in the battles of Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela. He became the conqueror of the known world, setting up cities, such as Alexandria, across the region. However, Alexander’s reputation is based on the combination of both the spread of Hellenistic culture in the wake of his armies and him being simply the most successful general in History.
The legend of the Gordian Knot appealed to us for Alexander’s decisive action and as a metaphor for radical solutions to complex problems. Gordian Knot Limited makes no claim and has no pretence about conquering anything. Our aim is simply to make money for investors with minimal risk. And if the banking system becomes more efficient as a consequence, that's good for everyone, and we're pleased to have played our small part.