To say that something is a "Gordian Knot" is a way of saying a problem's solution is extremely complex and intricate. Saying that someone has "cut the Gordian Knot" is saying that they came up with an unusual/unorthodox, but successful, solution to a complex problem. The phrase originates from a tale in Greek mythology, specifically the story of King Gordias that also later involves Alexander the Great. Around 2,000 B.C., the Phrygian Empire's king died without having a successor. A local oracle decreed that the next man to enter the city riding on a ox-drawn cart would be destined to become the next king. Shortly after, a local farmer named Gordias rode into town on a cart being pulled by an ox, and he was thus declared to be the new king. It was said that as a sign of gratitude his son, Midas, dedicated their cart to the Phrygian god Sabazios (basically their equivalent to the Greek god Zeus). He tied the cart to the idol's post with a knot so complex and intricate that no one could figure out how to untie it for over a millennia. The local oracle decreed that whoever could unravel the knot would become the ruler of all of Asia. Legend has it that thousands of people unsuccessfully tried to untie the knot over the centuries, and it remained tied for about 1,650 years. Then, when Alexander III of Macedon conquered the area around 350 B.C., he decided to take on the challenge of unraveling the knot, as his goal was to become the absolute ruler of the known world. He tried unsuccessfully to untie the knot, as many others before him. Alexander then reasoned that it didn't matter how the knot was unraveled--as the oracle did not specify how--so he drew his sword and cut the knot in two with one clean stroke. Thus being cut, the knot was very easy to unravel. After that, Alexander went on to conquer the rest of Asia, eventually earning the title "Alexander the Great." In fact, many of the battle tactics and strategies he used were quite unique and unorthodox for his time.
The cars that Roger Coffman owns:
- 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
- 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
- 1965 Jaguar XKE
- 1966 Corvette Stingray
- 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500
- 1968 Chevrolet Camaro
Roger trades his original six cars for the episode's namesake: a "cherry red" 1962 Ferrari GTO. The stated value of the car in the episode is $2.5 million. In 2013, one was auctioned for approximately $38 million.
This is the third time that Paul Dooley and Dennis Christopher have played father and son. The two previous times were in movies: Liam and Hughie Brenner in "A Wedding (1978)," and Raymond and Dave Stoller in " Breaking Away (1979)."