Heraclius and Muhammad

The Omphalion Navel of the Roman Empire

Located beneath Hagia Sophia’s massive dome, the Omphalion (Greek for “navel”) is a striking floor panel inlaid with concentric circles of colored marble. Representing the spiritual and political heart of the Byzantine Empire, it served as the ceremonial stage where emperors were crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople as God’s anointed ruler.