In ancient Egypt, the lotus represented rebirth. This meaning was inspired by the nature of the lotus’s petals that spread above water upon opening, and then close back up during the night. The Sesen is the lotus flower used extensively in Egyptian art, and represented the power of the sun, creation, rebirth, and regeneration.
The flower was a symbol of regeneration and linked to the sun’s cycle – the flower, floating on the water and shutting at night and reopening in the morning, was thought to represent the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Additionally, the lotus was thought to represent the creation of the world, as the Egyptians believed that the world was created from a giant lotus flower that sprouted from the primeval waters of chaos. The lotus was also associated with spiritual enlightenment, and was a symbol of Upper Egypt.