Plant monograph - Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile

Having recently stocked this fascinating herb I thought I'd write this monograph, I hope you find it informative. 


You can find dried Sacred Blue Lily flowers HERE.

 

Botanical name: Nymphaea nouchali var caerulea

Synonyms: Nymphaea caerulea, Nymphaea stellata

Other names: Egyptian Blue Water Lily, utpala (sanskrit), Seshen, ssn (Egyptian), Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile, Blue Water Lily, Blue Lotus*

Family: Nymphaeaceae

 *Commonly referred to as Blue Lotus which is somewhat of a botanical misnomer, as in fact the plant belongs to the true water lilies (Nymphaea) as opposed to it being a Lotus (Nucifera).

 

"Rise like Nefertem from the blue water lily, to the nostrils of Ra (the creator and Sun God), and come forth upon the horizon each day"

 

Sacred Blue Lily Flowers in the wild

 

Introduction

The Sacred Blue Lily (N.nouchali var caerulea) is a water lily iconic for both it's botanical beauty as well as its significance in the symbolism, mythology and ritual practices of Ancient Egypt.

Possessing beautiful, sky blue to violet flowers, the Sacred Blue Lily is indigenous to the lowlands of the Nile & Nile Delta. The flowers, which open during the day and close during the night were associated with the sun and the Sun God Ra as well as being closely linked to the detailed and visionary concepts of the afterlife and rebirth.

Its importance in Ancient Egypt would be hard to overstate, it is depicted on many papyri, tomb paintings, ornaments and on many vessels. Whilst early interpretation of its significance focused on its associations with water and fragrance, it is now understood that it's utility as a ritual shamanic inebriant was likely central to its esteemed status in Ancient Egypt.

 

Botanical Description

The Sacred Blue Lily is a perennial aquatic herb with a tuberous rhizome. It anchors itself in pond or river mud with spreading roots. It has floating, rounded peltate leaves with notched margins and a cleft to the centre where a long petiole (leaf stalk) connects it to the rhizome. The leaves are 8-35 x 7.5-42cm. As the plant ages the petioles lengthen and spread outwards, allowing new growth to fill the centre. One plant can spread approximately 1m.

The large (8–12cm) elegant blue flowers are held well above the water at the tip of a sturdy green stalk and appear almost constantly from spring until the end of summer. They are bisexual, star-like and regular (actinomorphic), with four sepals, green on the outside and white to blue on the inside, with many blue petals. In the centre of the flower are numerous blue-tipped, bright golden-yellow stamens.

 

Distribution

The native range of this variety is Egypt to South Africa, the Southern Arabian Peninsula and Comoros. It is cultivated commercially in Thailand and Sri Lanka, and has been introduced to northeast Argentina, Ascension, Assam, Bangladesh, northeast Brazil, southern and southeastern Brazil, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Fiji, Mauritius, New South Wales, northern New Zealand, Queensland, Society Island and Tubuai Island. It is a rhizomatous hydrogeophyte and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

 

Ecology

The habitat of The Sacred Blue Lily is slow moving rivers, lakes and ponds. It is found at altitudes between 10-1650m in South Africa. Pollination is entomophilous (by insect). It has carpellary appendages that appear to have evolved specifically to attract bee species. These are structures which serve to attract pollinators without actually rewarding them, thus by deceit. In this case they are visually attractive for bees and exude an odour mimicking food.

 

History

Water lilies are indigenous to, and inseparable from, Ancient Egypt. Remains of water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) have been found in Palaeolithic and early Holocene sites, with pollen samples from Naqada placing Nymphaea species in pre-dynastic upper Egypt.

The oldest known objects to specifically represent Nymphaea species date to the early dynastic period and are stone and faience vessels, the latter specifically represented N.nouchali var caerulea. These are from the early temples at Abydos & Hierakonpolis. Apart from these 3-D objects, Nymphaea species appear in hieroglyphics from the 1st dynasty.

According to Emboden, real commentary regarding the Sacred Blue Lily begins in the 5th dynasty, becomes important in the 9th, and was almost ubiquitous from the 14th dynasty onwards.

Nymphaea spp. were important ritual plants and grew wild in ponds and in the lowlands of the Nile, but were also cultivated in both natural and artificial bodies of water. Evidence exists in the form of a painting in a tomb dating back to 3000-2500 BCE, that nymphaeas were deliberately cultivated in square, evenly-spaced beds fed by canals.

The significance of the Sacred Blue Lily is confirmed by its continual depiction throughout the vast majority of Ancient Egyptian history, appearing numerous times in papyri scrolls, tomb paintings, on vessels and in grave goods. Some notable examples include garlands of flowers of White and Blue Lily found in the grave of the great Pharaoh Ramses II, the princess Nzi-Khonsu and a mummy marked 'kent' (Schweinfurth, 1883). Tutankhamen's tomb contained a gold-plated shrine decorated with a bas-relief of a pharaoh holding a huge Nymphaea and two Mandragora (mandrake) in his left hand.

 

Mythology

There existed not one single narrative for creation in Ancient Egypt, but multiple variations with a common theme that emerged at different times in different cities. An overview of these demonstrate the influence of the Sacred Blue Lily emerging from the primordial waters, for example:

The cosmogony based upon thought at Heliopolis describes how the world began from the watery chaos called Nun. From Nun there emerged a Blue Water Lily and from which Atum (the Sun God) sprang.

Similarly, in Memphite cosmogony the god Nerfertem – often depicted as the personification of the lily and god of perfume, healing and rejuvenation – emerges from the lily, which again came from the primordial waters.

The principal theme of the Memphite cosmogony was the struggle between Horus and Seth who was the brother of Osiris, and his murderer. In one version, the body of the slain Osiris was thrown into the Nile. He was resurrected in the form of the Blue Water Lily and with Isis bore the child Horus. It was Horus who was later to have four sons borne of the Sacred Blue Lily.

 

 

A colourful Ancient Egyptian papyrus

Four sons of Horus emerging from the Sacred Blue Lily

 

Symbolism

The Sacred Blue Lily flowers open in the morning with the rising sun and close later in the day as the sun descends. This cyclic pattern symbolised the rebirth of the sun in Ancient Egypt and has been closely associated with the Sun God Ra.

The Sacred Blue Water Lily also symbolises enlightened and reawakened consciousness of the deceased:

“that lotus flower which shines in the earth” (Book of the Dead, chapter 174, line 30, Dassow, 1994)

Whilst there may be some botanical derivation from the exact blooming time, the death and resurrection of Osiris is also symbolised by the Sacred Blue Lily, as it is said to bloom for three consecutive days.

  

Chemical Analysis

Phytochemical analysis revealed that the plant is a rich source of different secondary metabolites like anthocyanins, anthraquinones, emodins, fatty acids, flavonoids, luecoanthocyanins, glycosides, phenols, coumarins, tannins and triterpenoids.

Primary notable compounds thought responsible for potential ritual use are two aporphine alkaloids: apomorphine and nuciferine.

 

Ritual Use

Early interpretations explained the significance of the Sacred Blue Lily as emblematic of floral fragrance & water, or symbolic to death and rebirth. Due to the mythological, symbolic and artistic significance of the water lily, William Emboden has suggested that the role of the water lily was that of a narcotic used to mediate shamanic ecstasy amongst a priestly caste.

Not only does the Sacred Blue Lily possess narcotic properties but its depicted in numerous funerary texts such as The Papyrus of Ani, otherwise known as The Book of the Dead. In a chapter entitled transformation, Ani undergoes a shamanic transformation into a water lily.

Nymphaea flowers were also depicted in frescoes from the tomb of Nebaum (XVIII Dynasty, 1370-1318 BC) found in Luxor, and now located in the British Museum. The frescoes illustrate a ritualistic funeral dance with two male dancers accompanied by three women, garlanded with petals of the Sacred Blue Lily. The women are offering vases, from which golden emanations flow... as if they contained a magical fluid.

In addition to these texts, the water lily is frequently found in tomb imagery, papyri and vessels in conjunction with Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) & Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum). Emboden argues that from all the flora available, is it chance that these three plants possessing narcotic properties have been selected?

 

 

A Theban tomb fresco of the 18th Dynasty

A Theban tomb fresco of the 18th Dynasty depicting Sennofer and his sister. Before his nostrils, around the three vessels, above the vessels, and in the left hand of Sennofer, are Blue Water Lilies.

 

 

A wooden stela depicting Ra-Harakte
A wooden stela depicting Ra-Harakte (the healer) being offered a vessel whose contents are symbolised by the Nymphaea caerulea above it. 18th Dynasty.

 

Medicinal Use & Other Use

In Ancient Egypt, water lilies were prescribed to treat the liver; to remedy constipation; to counter act poisons; and to regulate the urine.

In folk medicine, the plant is reported to be soothing with tranquillising effects and is reputedly a detoxicant and aphrodisiac along with astringent, diuretic properties. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine for dyspepsia, enteritis, diarrhoea, urinary problems, fevers and heart palpitations (Encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses, 1995).

Apomorphine found in N.cochali var caerulea can be utilized, with excellent results, to treat erectile dysfunction.

Daniel E. Moerman from the University of Michigan-Dearborn states in his 1990s edits of "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" that the Chippewa, Potawatomi, Micmac and Ojibwa Indians used the juice of Nymphaea spp. rhizomes for poultices, as a cough medicine, as a pulmonary aid, in dermatitis and for mouth sores, but no mention appears of North American water lilies being used in a narcotic or shamanic context.

 

Effects

The reported effects of consuming the flowers of the Sacred Blue Lily involve hypnotic, relaxing, sleep inducing and aphrodisiac effects. Due to the lack of research on this plant more research is required.

 

Methods of Use

The Sacred Blue Lily has been utilised in various manners both historically and in modern times. It has been made into tea, soaked in wine and as an ingredient in topical products such as balms.

 

Summary

The Sacred Lily of the Nile had an esteemed status in ancient Egypt and yet for such an important plant in such an important culture very little is known about the relationship and its use. Whilst the depictions in ancient art reflect its use in ritual and shamanic transformation, the current reported effects of the plant do not quite match this notion. Is there something missing from the picture? The Ancient Egyptians were highly knowledgeable about plants and their applications, perhaps the Sacred Blue Lily was one part of a bigger recipe perhaps involving Mandrake and the Opium Poppy? More research is required.

 

Meriton, consort to Semenhkara, offers two mandrake fruits and a bud of the Blue Water Lily. She holds more of these flowers in her left hand. A scene of ritual healing. Circa 1350 BC.

 

References

  • Dassow, Eva von, ed 1994. The Egyptian Book of the Dead. San Franscisco: Chronicle Books.

  • Ratsch, C. 2005. Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants. Park Street Press.

  • Bown, D. 1995. Encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses.