After taking you on a brief tour of some of the stories in Greek mythology which feature flowers of various kinds, today we’re going to delve even further back into the swirling mists of the past, and talk about one of the most significant flowers to one of the most revered early civilisations: to wit, the Lotus Flower, and what it meant to the ancient Egyptians.
The significance of the lotus in Egyptian mythology is huge. For it was from the lotus flower that their sun-god, the centre of their entire mythos.
The story goes:
At the beginning there was nothing but flux and fluid; a watery chaos, a swamp of nothing, and of all. This chaos, this all-nothing, was a place but it was also a creature, and as a creature it had a name: that name was Nun.
And from these waters, from the emptiness of Nun, broke a lotus flower, rising above the swamp. The lotus arose from the waters on a single mound of dry land. And then, the flower bloomed.
When the petals of the lotus flower opened, they opened to reveal the Sun god, Atum, as a child. Other versions of the myth call the sun-god Ra; the two gods identities are merged, as is that of Ra and Amun. Hence, you sometimes read the given name as Atum-Ra or Amun-Ra.
When the self-created sun god had emerged from the lotus, he created the gods Shu and Tefnut, who swam away into the waters of Nun. When they returned, Atum was so overjoyed to see them that he wept tears of joy: these tears became the first humans.
The myth is undoubtedly wonderful. But why the lotus flower? It has very unique features which make it perfectly suited to this kind of myth. For one thing, it is the only known plant to bear fruit and flowers at the same time: a potent image of fertility and creation.
But also, the wonderful lotus flower does something quite magical on the waters of the Nile. It sinks underwater during the night, only rising to bloom again at the break of daylight. These magical properties made it deeply associated with the sun; after all, every time the lotus opens its petals, just as in the myth, the sun emerges.
FAQs
Back in Egyptians times, the lotus flower was very important in their religion. Meaning creation and rebirth, it was a symbol of the sun, because at nightfall it closes and goes beneath the water and at dawn it climbs up above the water and reopens.
What is the myth of the lotus flower? ›
The lotus arose from the waters on a single mound of dry land. And then, the flower bloomed. When the petals of the lotus flower opened, they opened to reveal the Sun god, Atum, as a child. Other versions of the myth call the sun-god Ra; the two gods identities are merged, as is that of Ra and Amun.
What is the Egyptian myth about flowers? ›
The Egyptian Lotus Flower has deep symbolic meaning in Egyptian culture. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the flower was believed to be the birthplace of the sun god, Ra. The flower also represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, as it closes at night and opens in the morning.
What is the Egyptian death flower? ›
The lotus flower played a very important role in the life and preparations for the after-life of the Ancient Egyptian people. It is believed that in many tomb paintings, the deceased is painted holding or smelling a lotus flower.
Why is lotus so special? ›
In general, however, the lotus commonly serves as a sacred for purity, rebirth, and strength. Because lotuses rise from the mud without stains, they are often viewed as a symbol of purity.
What does the lotus flower mean in Christianity? ›
For Christianity, the white blossoms of the lotus represent purity and creation, specifically God's creation of the universe. Similar to how the lotus rises from the murky depths of mud, this religion states that God brought creation, light and beauty out of the dark and empty space.
What is the dark meaning of lotus flower? ›
The lotus flower symbolizes rising from a dark place into beauty and rebirth, as this is precisely how a lotus flower grows.
What is the miracle of the lotus flower? ›
First and foremost, the lotus has a life cycle unlike any other plant. With its roots latched in mud, it submerges every night into river water and miraculously re-blooms the next morning, sparklingly clean. As a result, this has led the lotus to have associations as the flower with rebirth and spiritual enlightenment.
What is the magical power of the lotus flower? ›
In Eastern cultures and spiritualities, especially, the lotus is sometimes called the “Flower of Life” due to its association with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth or reincarnation. Each lotus' color also has significance of its own. White has come to represent beauty, grace, purity of mind, fertility, and faith.
What is a rare flower in Egypt? ›
Once a flower seen on the banks of the Nile all over Egypt, the blue lotus is now an endangered species rarely seen in its native land.
Daylilies Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Egyptian Queen')
| AHS link: | AHS Daylily Cultivar Info |
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| Branching: | 4-way |
| Bloom Traits: | Eye or Band |
| Bloom Form: | Single |
| Color description: | pale peach with royal purple eye above yellow green throat |
9 more rowsJan 16, 2022
The flower of god is Dianthus caryophyllus or Carnation . The name is a fusion of the Greek words "dios" and "anthos." The Greek god Zeus is depicted by "dios," and "anthos" means flower. That's why the Carnation is recognized as “God's Flower.”
What is the sacred meaning of lotus flower? ›
In Hinduism, the lotus represents spiritual enlightenment, beauty, fertility, purity, prosperity and eternity. It is said that there's a lotus flower in every Hindu's heart, and that when this lotus blooms, the person achieves enlightenment.
What is Egyptian lotus flower good for? ›
Blue lotus flower is an Egyptian water lily used to promote sleep, reduce anxiety, improve sexual performance, and address mental health conditions.
Which Egyptian god was a lotus flower? ›
The god Nefertum was born out of a lotus flower on the mound of creation; thus he was closely connected with the sun, creation, and with the lotus, but also, more broadly, sweet-smelling, pleasant things.
What are three interesting facts about lotus? ›
More Lotus Facts:
- It's India's national flower and is symbolic in Buddhism and Hinduism for wealth, prosperity, purity, and fertility.
- The flower species is native to Asia and most predominantly in India and China.
- The most common color variations of the lotus flower are pink and white.
