An omphalos is a religious stone artefact. In Ancient Greek, the word ὀμφᾰλός 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 was the place where Zeus placed the stone.
The Omphalos of Delphi
Foundation Stone, presumably the focus of the Jewish Temple, since the 7th century in the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim shrine on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Omphalos in the Greek Orthodox section of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
Omphalos of Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Delphi, in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), was an ancient sacred precinct and the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi (navel).
The Athena temple complex, including the Delphic Tholos. The background is the Pleistos River Valley.
The polygonal wall, 1902
Archaeological Museum of Delphi, designed by Alexandros Tombazis
The reconstructed Treasury of the Athenians, built to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Marathon
