 Both Plutarch and Arrian relate that, according to Aristobulus, Alexander pulled the knot out of its pole pin, exposing the two ends of the cord and allowing him to untie the knot without having to cut through it.Some classical scholars regard this as more plausible than the popular account.Literary sources of the story include Alexander's propagandist Arrian ("Anabasis Alexandri "2.3), Quintus Curtius (3.1.14), Justin's epitome of Pompeius Trogus (11.7.3), and Aelian's "De Natura Animalium" 13.1.