'The Sacred Egyptian Bean'

'The Sacred Egyptian Bean’, 1804 (from Dr  Robert Thornton’s Temple of Flora)

Note: The painting is said to be misnamed as the flower is not part of the bean family but rather is the lotus in ancient Egyptian art.

The Egyptian Lotus

As a symbol of rebirth, the lotus is a fixed part of tomb and coffin decoration, often in combination with the scarab, which has similar symbolic meaning.

The lotus flower flourishes on the banks of the Nile. It opens its large petals with the rising of the sun. To the ancient Egyptians it represented the sun because it banished darkness.

The blue lotus was the sacred flower of Hathor, the cow goddess of magic, fertility and healing, representing her powers of healing and regeneration.  This symbol means also the creation and rebirth. 

Nefertem was the god of healing, medicine and beauty and strongly associated with the lotus and often depicted in Egyptian art with a large lotus blossom forming his crown.

The lotus was the only flowering plant in Egypt that bloomed nonstop throughout the year.

Held by gods and goddesses near the nose of royal kings, queens and pharaohs as its scent, this flower was believed to be restorative and protective.

The Egyptian Lotus is considered a symbol of Upper Egypt but is also associated with to(sic) Heliopolis, in Lower Egypt. The lotus was also closely related to funeral ceremonies and the cult of Osiris.  

Depictions of the Four Sons of Horus frequently displayed them standing on a lotus in front of Osiris.

Extract of http://www.ancientpages.com