from functools import cache
@cache
def dp(x1,y1,x2,y2):
    if c[x1][y1]!=c[x2][y2]:
        return 0
    if x1+y1==x2+y2:
        if (x1,y1)==(x2,y2):
            return 1
        else:
            return 0
    ret=0
    ret+=dp(x1+1,y1,x2-1,y2)
    ret+=dp(x1,y1+1,x2-1,y2)
    ret+=dp(x1+1,y1,x2,y2-1)
    ret+=dp(x1,y1+1,x2,y2-1)
    ret%=MOD
    return ret
MOD=998244353
N=int(input())
c=[input() for i in range(N)]
print(dp(0,0,N-1,N-1))