
Omphalos
- First published
- 1857
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"Omphalos: An Attempt to Untie the Geological Knot" by Philip Henry Gosse is a book written in 1857 that presents a striking theory about creation and the fossil record. Gosse argues that God created the world with built-in evidence of a false past—like giving Adam a navel despite having no mother. The book attempts to reconcile geology with Genesis by suggesting all fossils represent an illusory pre-existence. Though logically consistent, it was immediately rejected and ridiculed by both religious and scientific communities.
- Evolution (Biology)
- Creation
- Bible and geology
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #39910. Omphalos on Wikipedia.



