Lotus flower had a significant divine position in ancient Egypt; it was symbolic of upper Egypt, it was called lotus by greeks.
The flower’s capital opens the daily morning after sunrise and closes by sunset in five days, and then falls are replaced with a green circle.
Types of the lotus :
1- blue lotus
As it’s called because of its nature, the bees’ killer is opening its capital and catching the bees inside it; its scientific name is carryl nymphae. It is used to describe Egyptian humanity, dawn, and closing by sunset like the sun.
2- purple lotus
It looks like a star shape. The flower’s width when it is open is between 15 to 20 cm, has four leaves. The outer side is a mixture of white and blue colors from inside ergonomic paint. It is an ants’ killer.
3- white lotus
It is called soshen , and from this name Susan and Suzan “ Arabic names for girls. “during the scientific name “ nymphae alba. “
It grows in river Nile and shallow rivers. But opposite blue lots, it opens its capital at night and closes by midday, and reopens by dusk to complete it is the circle in opening and closing with blue lotus, it was the symbol of purity.
4- tiger lotus
It is scientifically called “ nymphaea lotus “ or “Egyptian white lotus “ or water lily lotus, “45 cm in height.
5- red lotus
It was called “nkhb” by ancient Egyptians. Approximately in the year, 500 B.C was imported from India.
The importance of lotus flower in brief
1- in ancient Egyptian mythology: the lotus flower has appeared as the first creature which appeared in the cosmos, and the world was created from it since sun god ra appeared from this flower, finishing the darkness.
2- lotus flower also appeared in Thebes’ tombs, and it was offered with papyrus in mortuary rituals. The mummy of Tutankhamun was covered by lotus flowers.
3- columns of the temples were decorated by lotus capital, especially the blue lotus, representing the Memphis god nefertum, “ god of perfume “ in ancient Egypt.
It also symbolizes the river Nile: the stem represents the Nile valley, the head represents the delta and its lacks.
4- politically, it was the symbol of upper Egypt and one of the Egyptian army symbols.
5- according to Herodotus: the ancient Egyptians ate the root of the lotus, ground the dry flowers with wheat in bakeries.
6- sexually, the symbol of fertility and used in sexual rituals because of its vitality.