Nefertem was a youthful god, depicted as a young man and associated most often with the blue lotus flower. He was a god with origins from the Old Kingdom but grew in popularity in the New Kingdom. In one myth, it was believed that he was created from the primeval waters of chaos (Nun), an important element from Egyptian creation myths. In other myths, he emerged from the lotus flower. Although the two stories were interconnected as shown by his epithets, which included ‘the great lotus flower who emerges from Nun’. Nefertem thus became associated with the lotus’ flowers properties, as a plant that closes its petals at night and blooms in the day. It was a flower that was considered regenerative and associated with re-birth.
Nefertem was also known as the son of Ptah and Sekhmet/Bastet and can sometimes be represented as a youthful god with a lion’s head, instead of the lotus flower. Together with his mother and father he formed the Memphis Triad.
