from functools import cache
MOD = 998244353
N = int(input())
C = [input() for _ in range(N)]

@cache
def f(y,x,yy,xx):
    if(y + x == N-1):return y == yy
    
    ret = 0
    if(C[y+1][x] == C[yy-1][xx]):
        ret += f(y+1,x,yy-1,xx)
        ret %= MOD
    
    if(C[y+1][x] == C[yy][xx-1]):
        ret += f(y+1,x,yy,xx-1)
        ret %= MOD
    
    if(C[y][x+1] == C[yy-1][xx]):
        ret += f(y,x+1,yy-1,x)
        ret %= MOD
    
    if(C[y][x+1] == C[yy][xx-1]):
        ret += f(y,x+1,yy,xx-1)
        ret %= MOD
    
    return ret

if(C[0][0] == C[N-1][N-1]):
    print(f(0,0,N-1,N-1))
else:
    print(0)