Flowers from Egypt

The three lotus flowers sprouting up from the base form clear evidence of an Egyptian influence on the pendant and its maker. The lotus flower was a very popular Egyptian motif and was used very often and in many different places (Figs. 21-22). In ancient Egypt the lotus functioned as a symbol for rebirth and rejuvenation: lotuses close in the evening and open again in the morning, like the death and rebirth of the sun every day. The lotus can also be seen a few times in Nebamun’s hunting scene (Fig. 23).

The Egyptian lotus is also a motif often borrowed in art from other cultures, and can be seen for example on the Phoecian ivory plaque in Fig. 24.

A gold lotus flower very similar to the ones on the pendant was found in Mallia on Crete. This would point towards a Minoan origin of the pendant. We will see more objects from Mallia in the next step.