This mosaic is a representation of the Gordian Knot.
The Greek legend goes like this: a poor peasant named Gordius arrived in a public square of Phrygia in an ox cart. As chance would have it, an oracle had previously proclaimed that their future king would come into town riding in a wagon. Therefore, when Gordius arrived in the predicted manner the people made him king. In gratitude, Gordius dedicated his ox cart to Zeus, tying it up with a highly intricate knot - the Gordian knot. The oracle also foretold that the person who untangled the knot would rule all of Asia.
When Alexander came through Syria to Turkey he came upon the Kingdom of Darius. Darius fled his army when he saw Alexander coming and the King's main advisor killed the King for his cowardice. Alexander in return killed the advisor and gave King Darius a grand funeral. When Alexander came upon the knot he struggled with it for a while then finally took his sword to the knot and unravelled it that way. The priests told him he had earned the right to rule Asia for untying the knot but because
When Alexander came through Syria to Turkey he came upon the Kingdom of Darius. Darius fled his army when he saw Alexander coming and the King's main advisor killed the King for his cowardice. Alexander in return killed the advisor and gave King Darius a grand funeral. When Alexander came upon the knot he struggled with it for a while then finally took his sword to the knot and unravelled it that way. The priests told him he had earned the right to rule Asia for untying the knot but because
he made such short work of the knot his rule would also be short, and he died at the age of 32.
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