Ancient Egyptian beliefs in the Water Lily
The lotus is among the favorite flowers of the gods. It is considered a sacred flower in China, Egypt, India, Eastern sciences and Buddhism. He is the personification of fertility, perfection and purity. Since ancient times, the lotus has been associated with supreme power.
In ancient Egypt the image of the lotus (also known as water lily) was associated with creation, birth and the Sun as the source of life. This great flower blooms rising from the primordial waters and its leaves embody a sun god. The lotus symbolized the renewal of vitality and the return of youth. According to Egyptian beliefs, the old god died to be reborn young one. The depiction of a dead man holding a lotus flower speaks of a resurrection from the dead, a spiritual awakening.
The ancient Egyptians often associated the water lily with the god Horus, who rose from the lotus, representing the universe. It was a symbol of Upper Egypt, and the scepters of the pharaohs resembled a lotus flower placed on a long stalk, for a long time the lotus had been used in the hieroglyphics.
In Egyptian mythology, the lotus is associated with the sun because it blooms during the day and closes at night. The ancient Egyptians considered it a source of life, beauty and the pursuit of a better world. Legend has it that the sun god Ra was born from the lotus.
As a symbol of prosperity and fertility, the lotus was an attribute of the Memphis god of vegetation, Nefertum , who was depicted as a teenager with a lotus-colored head ornament. In the Pyramid Texts it is called the "lotus from the nose of Ra".
Every morning the god Nefertum rises from the lotus and every night he descends into the water of the sacred lake. The flower of the lotus is also depicted as a throne of various Egyptian deities. It was also used in many of the ceremonies and rituals in honor of the gods.