Nefertem

In Egyptian mythology, Nefertum (also Nefertum, Nefer-Tem, Nefer-Temu) is the god of the lotus plant and a solar deity associated with the sunrise. He is a son of Ptah with either Sekhmet or Bastet.

In art, Nefertum is usually depicted as having lotus flowers around his head, which is sometimes that of a lion. In some legends, he arose from a lotus flower.

His name means “Perfection.” Some of the titles of Nefertem were “He Who is Beautiful” and “Water Lily of the Sun.” A solar divinity, the god of fragrance and perfumes. In the Pyramid Texts, Nefertem was described as the “lotus blossom on the nose of Ra.” The ancient Egyptians carried small statuettes of him as good-luck charms. Nefertem was associated both with the scent of the lotus flower and its narcotic effect, which in ancient Egypt was used for medical anesthetics. Nefertem was shown as the divine blue lotus or as a beautiful young man with a lotus and feather headdress. Sometimes he was represented as a lion-headed man, or as a lion or cat reclining. Nefertem was thought to be the son of Sekhmet and Ptah. Sometimes he was considered to be the son of Bast or Wadjet, and the brother of Imhotep.

The Book of the Dead says: “Rise like Nefertem from the lotus to the nostrils of Ra, and come forth on the horizon every day.”