Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the ''[[omphalos]]'' stone, the centre of the [[earth]] and the universe. In the inner ''hestia'' ("hearth") of the Temple of Apollo, an [[eternal flame]] burned. After the [[battle of Plataea]], the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi.<ref>Burkert 1985, pp. 61, 84.</ref> | Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the ''[[omphalos]]'' stone, the centre of the [[earth]] and the universe. In the inner ''hestia'' ("hearth") of the Temple of Apollo, an [[eternal flame]] burned. After the [[battle of Plataea]], the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi.<ref>Burkert 1985, pp. 61, 84.</ref> |