omphalos

[ om-fuh-luhs ]

noun

1. the navel; umbilicus.
2. the central point.
3. Greek Antiquity. a stone in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, thought to mark the center of the earth.

omphalos

/ ˈɒmfəˌlɒs /

noun

1. (in the ancient world) a sacred conical object, esp a stone. The most famous omphalos at Delphi was assumed to mark the centre of the earth
2. the central point
3. literary.
   another word for navel

Word History and Origins

Origin of omphalos¹

1840–50; < Greek omphalós; akin to navel

Word History and Origins

Origin of omphalos¹

Greek: navel

Example Sentences

It is the omphalos, this city that straddles two steamboat rivers at the continental crossroads.

From The Daily Beast

On the right, the god is seated on the omphalos, holding up his right hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Delphi also contained the “Omphalos,” a sacred stone bound with fillets, supposed to mark the centre of the earth.

From Project Gutenberg

From which omphalos or hub of the universe he will direct his shining team even to the far Hesperides of Richmond or of Windsor.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the former is the famous Omphalos or Navel-stone, on which Apollo is often represented as sitting.

From Project Gutenberg

Omphalos, om′fal-us, n. the navel: a raised central point: a boss.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• heart
• hub
• place