"Omphalo" means navel. It originates from the ancient Greek word for "navel."
This word not only refers to the anatomical navel but also had a significant symbolic and religious meaning in ancient Greece. The omphalos was a sacred, rounded stone found in places like the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, believed to be the center of the world.
Here's a breakdown:
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Meaning: Navel
- Related Words:
- Latin: umbilicus (also meaning navel)
- Old English: nafela (the source of the modern English word "navel")
- Religious Significance: Referred to a sacred stone (like the one at Delphi), believed to be the center of the world.
Therefore, while the primary meaning of "omphalo" is "navel," its historical and cultural usage extends to represent a central point, both physically and spiritually.
