Gordius

• a king of Gordium, in Phrygia Major, famous for the inextricable knot on his chariot, which Alexander the Great cut with his sword, Curt. 3, 1, 15 sqq.; Just. 11, 7, 13 sqq.
• —Hence, Gordĭus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Gordius: nodus, i.e. an insoluble problem, Amm.14, 11, 1.

(Γόρδιος), an ancient king of Phrygia, and father of Midas, is celebrated in history, through the story of the Gordian knot. According to tradition, he was originally a poor peasant, but was destined to occupy a kingly throne, as was indicated by a prodigy which happened to him. One day, while he was ploughing, an eagle came down and settled on his yoke of oxen, and remained there till the evening. Gordius was surprised at the phenomenon, and went to Telmissus to consult the soothsayers of that place, who were very celebrated for their art. Close by the gates of the town he met a Telnissian girl, who herself possessed prophetic powers. He told her what he had come for, and she advised him to offer up sacrifices to Zeus Βασιλεύς at Telmissus. She herself accompanied him into the town, and gave him the necessary instructions respecting the sacrifices. Gordius, in return, took her for his wife, and became by her the father of Midas. When Midas had grown up to manhood, internal disturbances broke out in Phrygia, and an oracle informed the inhabitants that a car would bring them a king, who should at the same time put an end to the disturbances. When the people were deliberating on these points, Gordius, with his wife and son, suddenly appeared riding in his car in the assembly of the people, who at once recognized the person described by the oracle. According to Arrian (Arr. Anab. 2.3), the Phrygians made Midas their king, while, according to Justin (11.7), who also gives the oracle somewhat differently, and to others, Gordius himself was made king, and succeeded by Midas. The new king dedicated his car and the yoke to which the oxen had been fastened, to Zeus Βασιλεύς, in the acropolis of Gordium, and an oracle declared that, whosoever should untie the knot of the yoke, should reign over all Asia. It is a well-known story, that Alexander, on his arrival at Gordium, cut the knot with his sword, and applied the oracle to himself. (Comp. Curt. 3.1.15 ; Plut. Alex. 18; Strab. xii. p.568; Aelian, Ael. VH 4.17.) [L.S]

a Cappadocian by birth, the instrument of Mithridates Eupator VI. in his attempts to annex Cappadocia to Pontus. Gordius was employed by him, in B. C. 96, to murder Ariarathes VI. king of Cappadocia [ARIARATHES, No. 6]. He was afterwards tutor of a son of Mithridates. whom, after the murder of Ariarathes VII. he made king of Cappadocia. Gordius was sent as the envoy of Mithridates to Rome, and afterwards employed by him to engage Tigranes, king of Armenia, to attack Cappadocia, and expel Ariobarzanes I., whom the Romans made king of that country in B. C. 93. Sulla restored Ariobarzanes in the following year, and drove Gordius out of Cappadocia. Gordius was opposed to Muraena on the banks of the Halys, B. C. 83-2. (Justin, 38.1-3; App. Mith. 66; Plut. Sull. 5.) [W.B.D]

a charioteer, the companion of Elagabalus in his first race, and from that day forward the chosen friend of the emperor, by whom he was appointed praefectus vigilum. (Lamprid. Elagab. 6. 12; D. C. 79.15.) [W.R]

(Γόρδιος). An ancient king of Phrygia, and father of Midas, but originally a poor peasant. Internal disturbances having broken out in Phrygia, an oracle informed the inhabitants that a wagon would bring them a king, who would put an end to their troubles. Shortly afterwards Gordius suddenly appeared riding in his wagon in the assembly of the people, who at once acknowledged him as king. Gordius, out of gratitude, dedicated his chariot to Zeus, in the acropolis of Gordium. The pole was fastened to the yoke by a knot of bark; and an oracle declared that whosoever should untie the knot should reign over all Asia. Alexander, on his arrival at Gordium, cut the knot with his sword, and applied the oracle to himself (Plut. Alex. 18).