Definition
omphaloi
noun
- Plural of omphalos; the navel or a navel-like structure; in ancient Greek religion, a sacred stone at Delphi believed to mark the center of the world.
Usage: formal; chiefly historical or religious contexts
Examples
- The ancient Greeks believed the omphaloi at Delphi was the center of the earth.
- In classical texts, omphaloi referred to both literal navels and symbolic centers of importance.
- The temple housed the sacred omphaloi, a stone of great religious significance.
- Scholars study the omphaloi as evidence of ancient Greek cosmology and religious practice.