English: DID YOU KNOW!

Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera Energy: 66.44 Calories (per 100 g) Protein: 1.58 g (per 100 g) Higher classification: Lotus Rank: Species

Pink lotus flower: this is the supreme lotus and is considered to be the true lotus of Buddha. Lotus flowers grow inside muddy swamps and then emerge to the surface. The lotus family consists of two species: Nelumbo lutea and Nelumba nicifera. In traditional Asian cultures, the lotus flowers represent honor, good luck, long life and good health. These flowers are cultivated for their showy and fragrant flowers, lush green pads, fleshy rhizomes and broad, perforated and rounded seed pods.

Meaning of the Lotus Flower to the Ancient Egyptians Anybody who has taken a look at Egyptian culture cannot fail to have noticed the significance of the meaning of the Lotus flower in their culture.

In ancient Egypt there were two main types of lotus that grew, the white, and the blue (scientifically a waterlily, but symbolically a lotus). Further to this another type, the pink lotus flower was introduced into Egypt sometime during the late period of their civilization. If one is to observe the many hieroglyphics, it is easy to see that the Blue Lotus flower is the most commonly portrayed.

As mentioned in the introduction above about the meanings of the lotus flower, this plant is known to be associated with rebirth. This is a consequence of it supposedly retracting into the water at the night, and emerging a fresh in the Sun the next day (see the introduction for how a lotus plant actually comes into bloom). The Egyptians therefore associated the lotus flower with the sun which also disappeared in the night, only to re-emerge in the morning. Therefore the lotus came to symbolize the Sun and the creation. In many hieroglyphics works the lotus is depicted as emerging from Nun (the primordial water) bearing the Sun God.