Pectoral in gold cloisonne with semi-precious stones and glass-paste, with winged scarab, symbol of resurrection, in centre, from the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Calcite drinking cup in shape of lotus flower, from the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Alabaster lamp in shape of three lotus flowers, from the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Head of the child king emerging from a lotus flower, found at the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered in the Valley of the Kings, Thebes, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

An Egyptian white water-lily (Nymphaea lotus) growing in the rainforest at Playa Blanca, Costa Rica, Central America

An Egyptian white water-lily (Nymphaea lotus) growing in the rainforest at Playa Blanca, Costa Rica, Central America

Flower, Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea), Botanical Garden Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Europe

Flower, Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea), Botanical Garden Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Europe