About
Alternate Names: Nefertum, Nfrtm, Nfrtum
Nefertem is portrayed as a beautiful young man with a lotus flower on his head or in his hands. In other depictions, Nefertem has the body of a man, with the head of a lion. When Nefertem is depicted as a child, He is shown to be sitting on a blue lotus flower.
In the mornings the water lily flower opens up with the sun giving Egyptians a strong connection between the plant and heavenly body. Pictures of Nefertum are shown with stems intertwined with papyrus reeds to symbolize Upper and Lower Egypt.
In one myth, Nefertem is considered to be the blue lotus which the sun rises from each morning. The Pyramid Texts depict Nefertem as the lotus blossom before the nose of Ra.
There is much confusion about Nefertem's parents however. In Memphis, Nefertem is considered to be the son of Sekhmet - later to be known as the son of Ptah and Sekhmet. Bast also has claims to Nefertem as His mother. In other area's, Wadjet is shown to be His original mother. In another myth, Nefertem is a child which emerged from a lotus, floating on the surface of Nun.
He was considered patron of healing, the arts of beautification, the rising sun and was invoked in purifications and blessings of offerings of flowers and perfumes. The compassionate nature and healing aspect of Nefertem is illustrated by the legend in which he brings to the ageing, wounded Ra, a collection of sacred, beautiful Lotuses to ease His sufferings through the beauty of their scent and their narcotic properties. All forms of artistic creation honor Him, and it is said that he can help to share the fires of inspiration with artist of all kinds. In later periods, Nefertem's younger brother Imhotep would assume the patronship of the healing arts.
Nefertem was known as “Restrainer of The Two Lands”, giving Him an identity as a guardian-protector of both Upper and Lower Egypt (people carried statues of Him like modern-day saints medals). The lotus is the symbol for Upper Egypt. He was often shown with His long stems intertwined with papyrus reeds (a symbol for Lower Egypt) as a representation of the Two Lands. The allusion is also found in His epithet “Khener Tawy” protector of the Two Lands.
Nefertem usually is given the attributes which are associated with the flowers, and their scent in which He carries. His name was invoked during rituals of purification, and blessings. Nefertem's offerings usually consisted of plesant smelling flowers and perfumes.
Nefertem is portrayed as a beautiful young man with a lotus flower on his head or in his hands. In other depictions, Nefertem has the body of a man, with the head of a lion. When Nefertem is depicted as a child, He is shown to be sitting on a blue lotus flower.
In the mornings the water lily flower opens up with the sun giving Egyptians a strong connection between the plant and heavenly body. Pictures of Nefertum are shown with stems intertwined with papyrus reeds to symbolize Upper and Lower Egypt.
In one myth, Nefertem is considered to be the blue lotus which the sun rises from each morning. The Pyramid Texts depict Nefertem as the lotus blossom before the nose of Ra.
There is much confusion about Nefertem's parents however. In Memphis, Nefertem is considered to be the son of Sekhmet - later to be known as the son of Ptah and Sekhmet. Bast also has claims to Nefertem as His mother. In other area's, Wadjet is shown to be His original mother. In another myth, Nefertem is a child which emerged from a lotus, floating on the surface of Nun.
He was considered patron of healing, the arts of beautification, the rising sun and was invoked in purifications and blessings of offerings of flowers and perfumes. The compassionate nature and healing aspect of Nefertem is illustrated by the legend in which he brings to the ageing, wounded Ra, a collection of sacred, beautiful Lotuses to ease His sufferings through the beauty of their scent and their narcotic properties. All forms of artistic creation honor Him, and it is said that he can help to share the fires of inspiration with artist of all kinds. In later periods, Nefertem's younger brother Imhotep would assume the patronship of the healing arts.
Nefertem was known as “Restrainer of The Two Lands”, giving Him an identity as a guardian-protector of both Upper and Lower Egypt (people carried statues of Him like modern-day saints medals). The lotus is the symbol for Upper Egypt. He was often shown with His long stems intertwined with papyrus reeds (a symbol for Lower Egypt) as a representation of the Two Lands. The allusion is also found in His epithet “Khener Tawy” protector of the Two Lands.
Nefertem usually is given the attributes which are associated with the flowers, and their scent in which He carries. His name was invoked during rituals of purification, and blessings. Nefertem's offerings usually consisted of plesant smelling flowers and perfumes.
