Lotus Blossom: an art motif of Pharaonic Egypt

Lotus Blossom
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The lotus closes at night and sinks underwater. In the morning it re-emerges and blooms again, says Egyptianmyths.net. Thus the flower became a natural symbol of the sun and creation.

In Hermopolis, it was believed that it was a giant lotus blossom that first emerged from the primordial waters of Nun and from which the sun-god came forth.

As a symbol of re-birth, the lotus was closely related to the imagery of the funerary and Osirian cult. The Four Sons of Horus were frequently shown standing on a lotus in front of Osiris. The Book of the Dead contains spells for "transforming oneself into a lotus" and thus fulfilling the promise of resurrection.

The lotus was commonly used in art as a symbol of Upper Egypt. It was often shown with its long stems intertwined with papyrus reeds (a symbol of Lower Egypt) as a representation of the unification of the two lands.