The Omphalos, trans. "navel", the mythical stone fed to Kronos in place of Zeus. Legend holds that Zeus placed it in Delphi after determining the site was the center of the world.
A copy of the legendary Omphalos, translated "navel," dating from the 4th century BCE. The stone has two mythical stories attached, first as the stone that Rhea fed to Kronos in place of Zeus, giving Zeus the opportunity to free his Olympian siblings and overthrow the Titans. The second story involves Zeus setting out to determine the center of the world. He released eagles from the east and west extremities of the world, which flew out and met over the future site of Delphi, placing the stone there as a marker. The original Omphalos rested, topped by a pair of golden eagles, in the inner chambers of the temple along with other symbolic artifacts. The copy here is the top of an Athenian votive offering termed the "Acanthus Column," and depicts the stone as it appeared in the temple, covered by a thick woven net known as the agrenon.
Creation date unknown. Photograph processed July 1978. Notes written on the slide or index: Delphi - Roman amphalos.
