One of the most ancient and amazing plant symbols is the lotus flower, which has become key to many mythologies of the world. Images of a lotus are found in the symbolism of Ancient Egypt, India, and are also key in Buddhist mythology.
The use of the lotus flower as a symbol of the origin of the world and purity began in the most ancient times. The lotus flower was revered simultaneously in Africa, on the Mediterranean coast of Europe and in Southeast Asia.
Ancient Egyptian symbolism
The mythology of Ancient Egypt, rich in various symbols that are still found in human everyday life, singled out the lotus as the source of the emergence and continuation of the life of all things. The lotus flower was the emblem of the Upper Nile, making up, together with the symbol of the Lower Nile - papyrus, the union of the Egyptian gods. The priests of many ancient Egyptian gods used lotus flowers to decorate their temples. From this water color, according to legend, the sun god Ra was born, and other gods of the pantheon were often depicted on thrones from the flowers of the giant Nile lotus. The pharaohs of Egypt wore lotus sceptres as a symbol of the power given by the gods.
Lotus in Asian mythology
In Southeast Asia, lotuses and water lilies are also considered sacred. In India - the homeland of Hinduism and Buddhism - these white and pink flowers are sung in numerous legends. Being a symbol of feminine energy, the lotus also means fertility, the disclosure of creativity and self-knowledge, the spiritual and physical development of each person. Lotus flowers were brought to the temples of "female" goddesses, including the main goddess of the Hindu pantheon - Lakshmi. In addition, it is believed that the gods Brahma and Agni were born from the lotus flower, which gave them purity and solar energy.
The most widespread religion, whose symbol has always been a lotus flower or water lily, is Buddhism. One of the ideas about the origin of the world in Buddhism is that the original universe looked like a golden (solar) lotus. The white lotus has long been considered a symbol of innocence, good intentions and the finiteness of rebirth. The Buddha, sitting on a flower, forms the "heart of the lotus" - a symbol of purity and perfection.
In Chinese Taoism, which arose long before Buddhism, the lotus personified spiritual improvement and the constant wheel of life, a symbol of continuous existence in development. Subsequently, some Chinese gods were depicted sitting on lotus flowers, for example the goddess Kuan-Yin, who is the patroness of children and women.
Lotus in the myths of ancient Greece and Rome
The lotus flower also penetrated into the symbolism of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, where it was customary to depict Aphrodite (Venus) - the goddess of love with it. Just like in other religions, the lotus served here as a symbol of unclouded energy, development, and besides, physical love.
