Joseph L. Thimes<\/b><\/p>\n
In the era of Rameses II (about 1250 BC), the sacred plants of Egypt were the lotus and papyrus. This article will explain how the lotus influenced the lives of people in ancient Egypt and how it was used in the Bible.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s Taxonomy<\/b><\/p>\n
According to today\u2019s plant taxonomy, the two sacred lotuses of the Rameses II era (about 1250 BC) were in fact water lilies. The BLUE <\/b>lotus of ancient Egypt so often depicted in art is our Nymphaea caerulea<\/i>. For the Nymphaea caerulea<\/i>, the blossom usually ranges from 4 to 8 in across with a 6-in flower being typical. The WHITE <\/b>lotus of ancient Egypt so often used at their sumptuous banquets is our Nymphaea lotus<\/i>. For the Nymphaea lotus<\/i>, the blossom often ranges between 7 and 12 in in diameter with a 9-in flower being usual.<\/p>\n
Typical ancient Egyptian representations of papyrus (left) and lotus (right) plants. Both papyrus and lotus were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians and were Lotus in Ancient Egypt commonly depicted in their art. The lotus represented upper (southern) Egypt while the papyrus plant represented lower (northern) Egypt.<\/b><\/p>\n
Egyptian pink lotus (Nelumbo nucifera<\/i>) of the Ptolemaic era (left) and the almost identical American yellow lotus (Nelumbo lutea<\/i>) (right).<\/b><\/p>\n
The true PINK <\/b>lotus, Nelumbo nucifera<\/i>, was NOT <\/b>a sacred plant of ancient Egypt. The Persians probably introduced it into Egypt in about 500 BC. For the Nelumbo nucifera<\/i>, the blossoms commonly are about 12 in in diameter; the pads (leaves) can measure almost 3 ft across. This pink lotus was portrayed often in Ptolemaic art of Egypt (ca. 300\u201330 BC).<\/p>\n
Lotus in Ancient Egypt<\/b><\/p>\n
The lotus that played a significant role in the everyday lives of the people was a symbol for southern (or upper) Egypt. In ancient Egyptian, the term for lotus was seshen<\/i>. From very early times, the lotus was known in ancient Egypt. The earliest lotus depiction I personally viewed was a cut relief in a stone wall from the tomb chapel of Kapura, the overseer of the treasury (ca. 2400 BC), portraying several men carrying lotus blossoms and buds.<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 11<\/p>\n
Blue lotus blossoms (Nymphaea caerulea<\/i>).<\/b><\/p>\n
In ancient Egyptian religion, the lotus symbolized both eternity and resurrection, and served in rituals for the deceased. Lotus-tinted waters were used in purification rites, in votive offerings for the deities and in blessing the earth. As the lotus closed at night, sunk underwater and then opened again the next dawn, it was a natural symbol for rebirth, resurrection and creation. According to some of the ancient Egyptian creation legends, a huge lotus emerged from the primeval waters and gave birth to the sun.<\/p>\n
Lotus blossoms were portrayed in many objects in ancient Egypt, such as golden chalices and libation vessels, alabaster bowls and oil lamps, faience bowls and chalices, jewelry pieces, on walls of temples and tombs, and on sketches on limestone and papyrus. In architecture, some pillar capitals were lotus shaped. Exhibits of both Tutankhamun and Rameses II display many pieces where the lotus is prominent. The ancient Egyptians obtained their original concept of beauty from the natural curves of the lotus plant. To symbolize the union of the two lands (the two parts of Egypt), the papyrus of northern Egypt was often combined with the lotus plant of southern Egypt.<\/p>\n
The lotus was prominently cited in the \u201cSongs of the Harpers\u201d (ca. 2000 BC) that were love lyrics sung at sumptuous banquets with music supplied by harpers (harp players) and resplendent movements of dancing girls. The earliest record of the lotus in literature I found came from the pyramid text in Unas\u2019s pyramid (ca. 2350 BC). In the book of the dead, the lotus is described and the spell that transformed a person into a lotus is mentioned.<\/p>\n
At banquets, WHITE <\/b>lotuses were often placed on top of tables and adorned the hair of many fair maidens. Maidservants often placed necklets of white lotuses about the necks of young noblemen. At these banquets, guests often smelled the fragrance of BLUE <\/b>lotus blooms.<\/p>\n
All parts of the lotus plant were used. Of course, the blossom was the main attraction in art, religion and festive uses. The golden array of the stamens of the blossom reminded ancient Egyptians of the golden rays of the sun. Large lotus leaves provided shade for the fish in the Nile river region. The \u201c root \u201c portion (rhizome<\/i>) was sometimes ground into flour for bread and supplied starch for the nutritional needs of the people.<\/p>\n
Uniting of the two lands. On this base of a colossal seated statue of Rameses II at the entrance to the Luxor Temple, two manifestations of Hapy, god of the Nile\u2019s annual flood, unite the two lands of Upper (left) and Lower (right) Egypt. The lotus plant symbolized Upper Egypt, while the papyrus plant symbolized Lower Egypt. Since Hapy embodied fertility and abundance, he often possessed female breasts and an extended abdomen, as seen here.<\/b><\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 12<\/p>\n
White lotus blossoms (Nymphaea lotus<\/i>).<\/b><\/p>\n
The Lotus in Biblical Lands<\/b><\/p>\n
From ancient Egypt, the lore of the lotus spread to Phoenicia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Persia, Greece, Rome and Asia.<\/p>\n
In Palestine, one of the earliest lotus representations is found on a Megiddo ivory piece (ca. 1200 BC) picturing a beautiful lady presenting a lotus blossom to her Canaanite prince. Philistine alabaster goblets showing lotus petals also have been discovered.<\/p>\n
A stone sarcophagus of King Ahiram (ca.1000 BC) from Byblos of Phoenicia features Ahiram holding a lotus blossom. The Phoenician silver dish of Eshmunazar I (a king of Sidon ca. 620 BC) clearly flaunts paired Horus figures seated on lotus blossoms and buds. A stone stele dating to about 715 BC depicts the Assyrian king Sargon II holding lotus blossoms and buds. A stone relief portrays King Ashurbanipal (ca. 650 BC) of Assyria offering a libation near a table in which a lotus blossom is incorporated into the table\u2019s framework. This Ashurbanipal (Osnappar), a grandson of Sennacherib, is mentioned in the Bible (Ezr 4:10). Many ivory pieces from Phoenicia and Assyria show lotus motifs.<\/p>\n
Limestone cut reliefs from the Treasury Building at Persepolis (ca. 490 BC) show Darius I and his crown prince, Xerxes holding lotus blossoms and buds. Xerxes is the Greek form of Ahasuerus, a variant of Xerses\u2019 Persian name, found in the Book of Esther. Darius I is mentioned in the books of Ezra, Haggai and Zechariah.<\/p>\n
Ashurbanipal pouring out a libation offering on slain lions, ca. 650 BC. Before him is an offering table with a center support in the form of a lotus. Relief from the palace of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, now on display in the British Museum, London.<\/b><\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 13<\/p>\n
Darius I of Persia seated on his throne and holding lotus blossoms and buds. From a limestone relief at the Treasury Building at Persepolis, Iran, ca. 490 BC. In the second year of Darius I\u2019s reign the Jews rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple were challenged by local officials. After checking the records, Darius I sent a decree to the officials allowing the Jews to finish their work. The Temple was completed in the sixth year of Darius I\u2019s reign, on March 12, 516 BC (Ezr 6:15).<\/b><\/p>\n
the Roman era, vivid mosaics (ca. AD 60) showing both water lilies and the pink lotus were found at the Pompeii ruins in Italy. Some lotus mosaics dating to about AD 400 were found in Roman Palestine. At the House of the Vestal Virgins in the Roman Forum, I found three pools where water lilies are grown today!<\/p>\n
Lotus in the Bible1 <\/b><\/p>\n
Lotus (lily work) designs were carved onto Solomon\u2019s pillar capitals and on the brim of the \u201cmolten sea\u201d basin near the Temple (1 Kgs 7:19\u201327). Ahab decorated his palace with ivory (1 Kgs 22:39). Amos condemned the luxurious living of Israel\u2019s kings that included ivory beds and houses decorated with ivory. Many pieces of ivory depicting Egyptian lotus motifs were excavated in the ruins of Samaria, the capital city of King Ahab. One of these Samarian ivory pieces vividly illustrates the Egyptian god, Horus, seated on a lotus blossom. In Job 40:21\u201322, the behemoth plays under the shade of lotus plants.2 In an apocryphal addition to the book of Daniel, Susanna is wrongfully accused of adultery, but is ultimately proved innocent by Daniel. One of Jesus\u2019 followers was named Susanna (Lk 8:3). Susanna was derived from the Hebrew name showshannah<\/i>, which means white lily. The other Hebrew term meaning white lily is shuwshan<\/i>. These two words seem to come from the earlier Egyptian term seshen<\/i>, meaning lotus blossom. Hence, the lotus of ancient Egypt was probably the basis for the lotus and some of the lily topics of the Bible. Susa (one of ancient Persia\u2019s capital cities) comes from the same word derivation as Susanna. Susa appears in the books of Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n
There is a striking parallelism of passionate eroticism between the Song of Songs<\/i> in the Bible and the very ancient love lyrics that harpists played and elegant young maidens danced to at the sumptuous Egyptian banquets. These Egyptian love lyrics, known as Songs of the Harpers<\/i> or more simply as the Banquet Songs<\/i>, sometimes mentioned lotuses. The Song of Songs<\/i> was composed of love songs of youth and might have dealt with lotuses, as the Hebrew term shuwshan<\/i> (lily) is used several times.<\/p>\n
Joseph L. Thimes Is a retired dentist and a student of ancient Egypt. He has published numerous articles on jewelry, plants and history.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Joseph L. Thimes In the era of Rameses II (about 1250 BC), the sacred plants of Egypt were the lotus and papyrus. This article will explain how the lotus influenced the lives of people in ancient Egypt and how it was used in the Bible. Today\u2019s Taxonomy According to today\u2019s plant taxonomy, the two sacred … Continue reading “THE
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