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{{Infobox Egyptian deity|
{{short description|Ancient Egyptian deity}}
{{Infobox deity
⚫
| Image = Nefertum.svg
| type = Egyptian
| Caption= the Memphite god Nefertem with a water-lily heardress as a symbol of fragrance and beauty.
| Name = Nefertem
| name = Nefertem
⚫
| image = Nefertum.svg
| God_of = '''God of healing and beauty'''
| alt =
⚫
| cult_center = [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]
| Symbol = the water-lily
| caption = the Memphite god Nefertem with a water-lily headdress as a symbol of fragrance and beauty.
| hiero = <hiero>F35-I9:D21-X1:U15-A40</hiero><ref>Hart, George (2005). ''The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses''. Routledge. p. 99</ref>
⚫
| Parents = [[Ptah]] and [[Sekhmet]]
⚫
| cult_center = [[Memphis, Egypt|Memphis]]
| Siblings = [[Maahes]] (in some accounts)
| symbol = the water-lily, lion (occasionally)
| Consort =
⚫
| parents = [[Ptah]] and [[Sekhmet]] or [[Bastet|Bast]]
| Children =
| siblings = [[Maahes]] (either full or half depending on the mother)
}}
}}
⚫
'''Nefertem''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɛ|f|ər|ˌ|t|ɛ|m}}; possibly "beautiful one who closes" or "one who does not close"; also spelled '''Nefertum''' or '''Nefer-temu''') was, in [[Egyptian mythology]], originally a lotus flower at the creation of the world, who had arisen from the primal waters.<ref>Nefertem page at [http://www.egyptianmyths.net/nefertem.htm Ancient Egypt: the Mythology] retrieved June 21, 2008.</ref>
⚫
[[Image:Nefertoum E3502 mp3h8834.jpg|thumb|left|Nefertem]]
⚫
Nefertem represented both the first sunlight and the delightful smell of the Egyptian blue lotus flower, having arisen from the primal waters within an Egyptian blue water-lily, ''[[Nymphaea caerulea]]''. Some of the titles of Nefertem were "He Who is Beautiful" and "Water-Lily of the Sun", and a version of the ''[[Book of the Dead]]'' says:
⚫
In [[Egyptian mythology]], '''Nefertem''' (perhaps to be translated: 'the beautiful one who closes' or 'the one who does not close'; also read as '''Nefertum''', '''Nefer-Tem''', '''Nefer-Temu''') was originally a lotusflower at the creation of the world, who had arisen from the primal waters.<ref>Nefertem page at [http://www.egyptianmyths.net/nefertem.htm Ancient Egypt: the Mythology] retrieved June 21, 2008.</ref>
⚫
{{quote|Rise like Nefertem from the blue water lily, to the nostrils of Ra (the creator and sungod), and come forth upon the horizon each day.}}
⚫
Nefertem represented both the first sunlight and the delightful smell of the Egyptian blue lotus flower, having arisen from the primal waters within an Egyptian blue water-lily, [[Nymphaea caerulea]]. (This flower is widely used in Egyptian art, religion and literature. In much of the literature about ancient Egypt, it is called the "(blue) lotus".<ref>[http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/childgod.htm Male Child Deities of Ancient Egypt at Tour Egypt] retrieved June 21, 2008.</ref> However, the true lotus, ''[[Nelumbo nucifera]]'', is not found in Egypt until the time of the [[Persia]]n invasion, when it was introduced as a food crop. Some of the titles of Nefertem were "He Who is Beautiful" and "Water-Lily of the Sun", and a version of the ''[[Book of the Dead]]'' says,
{{multiple image
| image1 = Nefertem lion.svg
| width1 = 100
| image2 = Nefertum.svg
| width2 = 100
| footer = Nefertem or Nefertum was depicted either as a lion-headed man (left), as a beautiful young man (right)
}}
⚫
Nefertem was eventually seen as the son of the creator god [[Ptah]], and the goddesses [[Sekhmet]] and [[Bastet|Bast]] were sometimes called his mother. In [[art]], Nefertem is usually depicted as a beautiful young man having blue water-lily flowers around his head. As the son of Bastet, he also sometimes has the head of a [[lion]] or is a lion or cat reclining. The ancient Egyptians {{specify}} often carried small statuettes of him as good-luck charms.


One of the most notable depictions of Nefertem is the [[Head of Nefertem]], a wooden bust depicting a young king [[Tutankhamun]] as Nefertem with his head emerging from a lotus flower.{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}
⚫
"Rise like Nefertem from the blue water lily, to the nostrils of Ra (the creator and sungod), and come forth upon the horizon each day."


==Gallery==
⚫
Nefertum was eventually seen as the son of the creator god Ptah, and the goddesses [[Sekhmet]] and [[Bastet]] were sometimes called his mother. In [[art]], Nefertum is usually depicted as a beautiful young man having blue water-lily flowers around his head. As the son of Bast, he also sometimes has the head of a [[lion]] or is a lion or cat reclining. The ancient Egyptians often carried small statuettes of him as good-luck charms.
<gallery>
File:Abydos Sokar Nefertem 08.jpg|Nefertem (middle left) depicted with the head of a lion with a falcon and lotus atop his head.
File:Egyptian - Nefertem - Walters 541972.jpg|Nefertem, [[The Walters Art Museum]].
⚫
File:Nefertoum E3502 mp3h8834.jpg|Closeup of a statuette of Nefertem.
File:Tête de Toutânkhamon enfant (musée du Caire Egypte).jpg|The Head of Nefertem, found in the [[Tomb of Tutankhamun]].
File:Memphis Museum 37.jpg|The Colossal Triad of Memphis, with Nefertem depicted standing at Ptah's right and Sekhmet at his left.
File:Memphite Triad on barge.svg|The Memphite Triad on a [[Solar barque]] including [[Ptah]], [[Sekhmet]], and Nefertem.
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |author1-last=Morenz |author1-first=Siegfried |author2-last=Schubert |author2-first=Johannes |title=Der Gott auf der Blume: Eine ägyptische Kosmogonie und ihre weltweite Bildwirkung|language=German |year=1954 |publisher=Verlag Artibus Asiæ |ref=none}}


{{Ancient Egyptian religion footer|collapsed}}
{{Ancient Egyptian religion footer|collapsed}}


{{Authority control}}


⚫
[[Category:Solar gods]]
[[Category:Egyptian gods]]
[[Category:Egyptian gods]]
[[Category:Cat gods]]
[[Category:Lion gods]]
[[Category:Bastet]]
[[Category:Sekhmet]]
⚫
[[Category:Solar gods]]
[[Category:Beauty gods]]
[[Category:Mythological plants]]
[[Category:Flowers in religion]]


[[bg:Нефертум]]
[[ca:Llista de personatges de la mitologia egípcia#N]]
[[ca:Llista de personatges de la mitologia egípcia#N]]
[[cs:Nefertum]]
[[da:Nefertum]]
[[de:Nefertem]]
[[es:Nefertum]]
[[eo:Nefertumo]]
[[eu:Nefertum]]
[[fr:Nefertoum]]
[[ko:네페르템]]
[[hr:Nefertem]]
[[hu:Nofertum]]
[[nl:Nefertem]]
[[ja:ネフェルトゥム]]
[[no:Nefertum]]
[[pl:Nefertum]]
[[pt:Nefertum]]
[[ro:Nefertum]]
[[ru:Нефертум]]
[[sr:Нефертем]]
[[fi:Nefertum]]
[[sv:Nefertum]]
[[uk:Нефертум]]

Latest revision as of 03:15, 10 January 2025

Nefertem
the Memphite god Nefertem with a water-lily headdress as a symbol of fragrance and beauty.
Name in hieroglyphs
F35I9
D21		 X1
U15		 A40
[1]
Major cult centerMemphis
Symbolthe water-lily, lion (occasionally)
Genealogy
ParentsPtah and Sekhmet or Bast
SiblingsMaahes (either full or half depending on the mother)

Nefertem (/ˈnɛfərˌtɛm/; possibly "beautiful one who closes" or "one who does not close"; also spelled Nefertum or Nefer-temu) was, in Egyptian mythology, originally a lotus flower at the creation of the world, who had arisen from the primal waters.[2] Nefertem represented both the first sunlight and the delightful smell of the Egyptian blue lotus flower, having arisen from the primal waters within an Egyptian blue water-lily, Nymphaea caerulea. Some of the titles of Nefertem were "He Who is Beautiful" and "Water-Lily of the Sun", and a version of the Book of the Dead says:

Rise like Nefertem from the blue water lily, to the nostrils of Ra (the creator and sungod), and come forth upon the horizon each day.

Nefertem or Nefertum was depicted either as a lion-headed man (left), as a beautiful young man (right)

Nefertem was eventually seen as the son of the creator god Ptah, and the goddesses Sekhmet and Bast were sometimes called his mother. In art, Nefertem is usually depicted as a beautiful young man having blue water-lily flowers around his head. As the son of Bastet, he also sometimes has the head of a lion or is a lion or cat reclining. The ancient Egyptians [specify] often carried small statuettes of him as good-luck charms.

One of the most notable depictions of Nefertem is the Head of Nefertem, a wooden bust depicting a young king Tutankhamun as Nefertem with his head emerging from a lotus flower.

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[edit]
  • Nefertem (middle left) depicted with the head of a lion with a falcon and lotus atop his head.
    Nefertem (middle left) depicted with the head of a lion with a falcon and lotus atop his head.
  • Nefertem, The Walters Art Museum.
    Nefertem, The Walters Art Museum.
  • Closeup of a statuette of Nefertem.
    Closeup of a statuette of Nefertem.
  • The Head of Nefertem, found in the Tomb of Tutankhamun.
    The Head of Nefertem, found in the Tomb of Tutankhamun.
  • The Colossal Triad of Memphis, with Nefertem depicted standing at Ptah's right and Sekhmet at his left.
    The Colossal Triad of Memphis, with Nefertem depicted standing at Ptah's right and Sekhmet at his left.
  • The Memphite Triad on a Solar barque including Ptah, Sekhmet, and Nefertem.
    The Memphite Triad on a Solar barque including Ptah, Sekhmet, and Nefertem.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hart, George (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. Routledge. p. 99
  2. ^ Nefertem page at Ancient Egypt: the Mythology retrieved June 21, 2008.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Morenz, Siegfried; Schubert, Johannes (1954). Der Gott auf der Blume: Eine ägyptische Kosmogonie und ihre weltweite Bildwirkung (in German). Verlag Artibus Asiæ.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Nefertem&oldid=1268505512"