GORDIUS, king of Phrygia, and father of Midas, was a poor husbandman, with two yokes of oxen, where-with he ploughed his land and drew his wain. An eagle sitting a long while upon one of his oxen, he consulted the soothsayers; a virgin bid him sacrifice
to Jupiter in the capacity of king. He married the virgin, who brought forth Midas. The Persians instructed by the oracle to set the first person they met in a vain upon the throne, met Gordius, and made him king. Midas for this good fortune dedicated to Jupiter his father's cart. The knot of the yoke, they say, was so well twisted, that he who could unloose it was promised the empire of Asia; hence the proverb of the Gordian knot had its original. See GORDIAN Knot.