Mummy's Wrap

Three types of lotus or water lily are known to have existed in ancient Egypt. The Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) was the most sacred of the three and will be the focus of this article. The White Lotus (Nymphaea lotus) was featured often in ancient Egyptian art. The Pink Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is the only true lotus known to grow in Egypt and was introduced to the country during the Persian Period (517 BC – 332 BC) (Nunn; Ancient Egyptian Medicine; pg. 157).

The blue and white lotuses are not true lotuses, as are defined by modern standards. They are, in fact, water lilies. The only true lotus that grows in Egypt is the pink lotus. The differences between the plants can be identified by the leaves. The leaves of a lotus lay flat against the surface of the water while a water lily’s leaves curl well above the water (www.entheology.org).

As with many herbals used in ancient Egypt, the lotus is tied very closely with certain aspects of the mythology, in this case, death and rebirth. In the evening, the lotus closes its bloom and dips below the surface of the water only to reemerge and bloom again come morning. The birth of the creator god was associated with the lotus. Depending on the location within Egypt, the creator god is either Atum or Ra. Whether Atum or Ra, the creation myth differs very little. The creator god emerged from the chaotic waters of Nun and eventually creates order and, in the process, creates Egypt along with the other gods and goddesses (www.touregypt.net). Furthermore, the Book of the Dead contains spells echoing the symbology of rebirth, as certain spells in the Book of the Dead mention how to “turn oneself into a lotus” (www.egyptianmyths.net).

Artwork such as the bust of Tutankhamen rising from a lotus blossom portray this close association with death and rebirth. The lotus is also a symbol of Upper Egypt and is used when combined with a papyrus blossom, the symbol of Lower Egypt, to represent the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt (www.egyptianmyths.net).

While the religious aspects of the lotus were not the only reason the plant was important to the ancient Egyptians. The medicinal and magical properties of the herb were just as legendary to the ancient Egyptians as the mythology itself. The lotus was used as a true herbal to treat liver disease, infusing the bloom in wine. The magical properties of the herb include such spells as causing the hair of a woman you hate to fall out (Manniche; An Ancient Egyptian Herbal; pg. 134). It was often portrayed as a bloom both men and women would smell. The lotus was equated with the breath of life, as well as a sexual stimulant (Halioua, Ziskind; Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs; pg. 151).

Many modern studies have been performed on the Blue Lotus, some more scientific than others. A mummy known as Azru, a priestess of Khonsu, the moon god, was found to contain phytosterols, bioflavonoids, and phosphdiastrates. No known narcotics or painkillers were identified within her mummy to explain the presence of these substances. It was noted, however, that the substances found in Azru were also found to be present within the Blue Lotus (Nyumphaea cerulean). The Blue Lotus contains such substances as an alkaloid known as Nuciferin, Phophdiastrates, phytosterols and bioflavonoids. Nuciferin is a known anti-spasmodic, calming the nervous system and relaxing the body. Phosphdiastrates is a sexual stimulant, also found in drugs such as Viagra. Phytosterols are natural plant alcohols that may help reduce heart disease. Bioflavonoids are antioxidants, helping to fight diarrhea and may fight cancer and promote stability in capillaries, the finer blood vessels stemming from the larger arterioles and venules (www.entheology.org).

To this day, one of the most sacred plants within ancient Egypt is used as an intoxicant and as a psychoactive drug. People today drink wine infused with the bloom, smoke the petals and even drink a tea made from the flowers. It is possible the same uses for the plant were known to the ancient Egyptians (Nunn; Ancient Egyptian Medicine; pg. 157-158).

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This entry was posted by Page Strong on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 10:00 and is filed under Ancient Egypt, Herbals, medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.