I remember that somewhere in Nibley's writings there is a reference to the Egyptian word Benben, the primordial mound or first earth which formed the center of creation. The temple (at least at Hieropolis) was supposed to be the site of the Benben. I've run onto a similar tradition from the Talmud:
"Tradition relates that in the temple there was Eben Shetiyyah (a foundation stone) which was so named because upon it the world was founded, and from this as a centre the was created....
Since the Sun was not created until the fourth day, whence did light have its origin?....the light emanated from the site of the temple which...was the centre of the world's creation."
Abraham Cohen
Everyman's Talmud
The Talmudic references were Joma 54b and Gen. R. III, 4.
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