Omphalos

An omphalos is a religious stone artefact. In Ancient Greek, the word ὀμφᾰλός (omphalós) means "navel". Among the Ancient Greeks, it was a widespread belief that Delphi was the center of the world. According to the myths regarding the founding of the Delphic Oracle, Zeus, in his attempt to locate the center of the Earth, launched two eagles from the two ends of the world, and the eagles, starting simultaneously and flying at equal speed, crossed their paths above the area of Delphi, and so that was the place where Zeus placed the stone.[1]

Omphalos is also the name of the stone given to Cronus.

Similar ideas of a particular geographical point being the center of the world (or its most important place) also surface in the major religions of the modern era. The Latin term is umbilicus mundi, 'navel of the world'.

  1. ^ Voegelin E. (2000). Order and History, Volume 2. University of Missouri Press. p. 31. ISBN 9780826263933.