Egyptian Lily
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The White Lily or the Lotus is a symbolic flower of ancient Egypt. Its common name is white lily or water lily .Its botanical name is Nymphaea lotus. Its Arabic name is Ward el nil or Sawsan which quite resembles the ancient Egyptian name “Sesen”.
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The lotus flower appeared in legends originating from ancient Egypt. It played an important part in ancient Egyptian religion. In Egypt, Nymphaea caerulea the blue lotus and Nymphaea lotus, the white lotus, have been admired, painted, eaten, grown and revered for thousands of years.
The goddess Isis is said to have pointed out that the rhizomes were edible, and
its flowers, buds and leaves are often depicted on ancient monuments, in murals,
on pottery and on furniture. The blooms were in great demand for religious
festivals, offerings of the flowers being made to the dead or to the gods, as
well as for gifts to visiting noblemen as a gesture of friendship and goodwill.
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The pure white lotus flower, the only plant to fruit and flower simultaneously, emerges from the depths of the muddy swamp. Growing from the mud at the bottom of ponds and streams, the exquisite Lotus flower rises above the water and is usually white or pink with 15 or more oval, spreading petals, and a peculiar, flat seedcase at its center.
The white lotus is a shallow-water, night-blooming plant with a creeping rootstock (rhizome) that sends up long-stalked, nearly circular, dark green leathery leaves, which float on the surface. The flowers, up to 25 cm (10 in) across, remain open until midday. The white lotus' rounded petals appear with round, scalloped edge leaves. The red lotus was introduced to Egypt from Persia in later dynasties.
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The blue lily or Nymphaea Caerulea (blue lotus) was represented in ancient Egyptian art. Its common name is Blue Lotus, Egyptian Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Sacred Narcotic Lily of the Nile.
The blue lotus was found scattered over Tutankhamen's body when the Pharaoh's tomb was opened in 1922. ”. In wall paintings on Egyptian ruins you can see they really loved this flower. It's fragrant with a nice fruity scent. There are wall frescoes with Egyptians smelling the blossoms. It's even thought to be narcotic. They even infused their wine with the blossoms.
Many historians thought it was a purely symbolic flower, but there may be some reason to believe that ancient Egyptians used it to induce an ecstatic state, stimulation, and/or hallucinations, as well as being widely used as a general remedy against illness, old age disease and to this day is used as a tonic for good health. For some, it may act as an aphrodisiac.
Historical Uses
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Provides a relaxing
euphoric sensation. It may help relieve muscle spasms. Ancient Egyptians used blue lotus flower as a strong aphrodisiac. Egyptian medicinal practitioners also used this flower to
stimulate blood flow, and as an anti aging treatment. The ancients worshipped
Blue Lotus as a visionary plant and it was the symbol for the origins of life.
When this flower was soaked in water or wine, and then ingested it acted as an
intoxicant. The Indians and Buddhist highly respected it for its visionary
properties. This flower creates a feeling of well being, euphoria and ecstasy.
Medicinal Uses
Egyptian Blue Lotus is a sedative, antispasmodic, and enthnogen. In recent research, it was found that it contains substances that are more potent than today’s mostly wanted “viagra”.
Cultivation:
Nymphaea caerulea flowers in the spring should be planted in sunny positions in
medium or clay loam.
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The flowers may also be prepared as a tea,
which produces a thick, amber liquid which upon being consumed creates a warm,
euphoric glow.
The effects include:
Alertness, contentment, relaxation, a kind of tranquil euphoria, increased
mental awareness, ending in a sedative effect.
It is Blue Lotus which is used in ancient Egypt as a key to good health, sex and re-birth. A tonic like ginseng, pain reliever like arnica, circulation stimulant like ginkgo biloba, and sex stimulant like Viagra. Egyptian Blue Lotus creates a feeling of well being, euphoria and ecstasy.
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