Omphalos

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An omphalos is a religious stone Artifact in the ancient world. In Greek , the word ''omphalos'' means " Navel ".

According to the ancient Greeks, Zeus sent out two eagles to fly across the world to meet at its center, the "navel" of the world. Omphalos stones to denote this point were erected in several areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea , the most famous of those was at the oracle in Delphi .

Erwin Rohde wrote that the Python at Delphi was an earth spirit, who was conquered by Apollo, and buried under the Omphalos, and that it is a case of one god setting up his temple on the grave of another.

Omphalos stones were said to allow direct communication with the gods.

SEE ALSO

Omphale , name of a mythological queen of Lydia

Linga

FOOTNOTES

cf. Rohde, ''Psyche'', p.97

REFERENCES

Burkert, Walter , ''Greek Religion'' 1985.

Farnell, Lewis Richard, ''The Cults of the Greek States'', 1896.

Goodrich, Norma Lorre, ''Priestesses'', 1990.

Guthrie, William Keith Chambers, ''The Greeks and their Gods'', 1955.

Manly Palmer Hall , ''The Secret Teachings of All Ages'', 1928. Ch. 14 cf. Greek Oracles , www , PRS

Jane Ellen Harrison , ''Themis: A Study of the Social Origins of Greek Religion'', 1912. cf. p.396 and after for a discussion on the Omphalos. {Link without Title} {Link without Title}

Homeric Hymn to Pythian Apollo

Rohde, Erwin , ''Psyche'', 1925.

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Omphalos