
Topic
religious stone artefact signifying the center of the world
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 that was the place where Zeus placed the stone. The Latin term is umbilicus mundi, 'navel of the world'.
Not who you're looking for? Others named Omphalos: 2019 novelette by Ted Chiang · book by Philip Henry Gosse · 2014 film