Explore More Issue 18

PHARAOHS and FLOWERS

PHARAOHS and FLOWERS Garden designer Paul Hervey-Brookes conjures up the allure of Egypt, shining a spotlight on the plants of the region Top to bottom: Papyrus growing along the Nile River; Paul Hervey-Brookes To many Egypt is a land of hot sun and searing bright light; it is exotic and steeped in ancient history but not often associated with flowers. However, the great Pharaohs, including the enigmatic boy king, Tutankhamen, were obsessed by flowers and intertwined them into daily life as well as more spiritual rituals. The most obvious plants that grow along the Nile are the lotus and papyrus and both featured highly in everyday life. LOTUS LOVE Bowls shaped like a lotus bloom would be carried to the Nile with lit candles, and whilst singing prayers the Egyptians would float the little lotus boat out; if it remained floating and drifted away a good year was to follow. Egyptians would sing to the lotus and replicate its form in architectural details, and it came to symbolise Upper Egypt and the source of the Nile whilst the papyrus stood for Lower Egypt. In spiritual life, thanks to its habit of opening in the morning and closing at night, the lotus came to represent the idea of rebirth and the flower symbolised in depictions and hieroglyphs the deceased as they entered the underworld and also their rebirth into new life. The gods Re and Nefertem were both depicted by ancient artists as emerging from Lotus flowers, a symbol of its power. There are two varieties of lotus that thrive along the Nile: Nymphaea coerulea and Nymphaea lotus – the blue lotus. The former is intensely scented and ancient Egyptians believed its heavenly fragrance indicated the presence of a god and, as such, in tomb scenes the deceased is often depicted with its bloom held to his or her nose. POWERFUL PAPYRUS The papyrus, which grows in large thickets along the banks and shores of the Nile, was a symbol of fertility and life. During the Old Kingdom (2686 to 2181BC) it was the most utilised form in architectural design and its free stalks and flowering heads often made up the offerings the dead would take to the grave. Later on, during the New Kingdom (1570 to 1070BC), many non-native plants arrived in Egypt via gift-giving and conquest. Tuthmosis III had a botanical garden planted at the Temple 40 VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK | WINTER 2019 040-041_EM18_PaulH.indd 40 05/11/2019 10:04

GARDENING of Amun at Karnak and, in the tomb paintings of the period, plants such as Papaver rheas and Centuarea depressa from the Judaea and Samaria regions, along with European Arum italica and Dracunculus vulgaris, are depicted. PHOTOS: © ISTOCK TUTANKHAMUN’S TOMB During the 18th Dynasty, it was fashionable to wear large thin blueish tin collars of faience. These normally took the decorative forms of flowers we would know today as cornflower, chamomile, lotus and citrus type fruits. Collars made in the same style but of fresh flowers were created for ceremonies and feasts, and are also depicted in tomb paintings from the period. More exciting, however, are the six complete collars that were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. These would have been worn at his funerary banquet and were embalmed to travel with him to the next life. Tutankhamun offers us one of the most complete insights into flowers and their significance for the next life in Ancient Egypt. Almost all Pharaohs of the New Kingdom would have been embalmed with a floral collar which rested on the chest on the innermost of their coffins. Tutankhamun’s is the sole surviving collar we have today and it includes plants such as olive, Egyptian willow and pomegranate. Alongside the collar, flat garlands made of similar plants, including acacia, delphinium, carthamus and white willow herb, were wound over the fabric of the embalmed Pharaoh in concentric semicircles. Most of these have not survived but depictions and fragments found in the inner caskets point to the importance flowers held. There is also evidence that in rare circumstances the Pharaoh would have had a floral crown. Fragments had been found in the hair of Amenhotep II but final proof was found with Tutankhamun. Two crowns hung around the royal insignia of the brows of the first and second coffin. Statuettes of the deceased placed in the tomb were also decorated with floral garlands and, unusually, the jugs and casket of goods to be taken to the next life were also decorated with fresh floral garlands. Tutankhamun’s tomb is one of only three to be found containing pole bouquets – these were made from vines and the leaf stems of a native tree called melilot. FLORAL TRIBUTES There are still many mysteries surrounding the plants found in different tombs. The dried remains of Narcissus tazetta bulb were found placed around the neck of Rameses II but not on any other Pharaoh, whilst the leaves of Crinum were placed over the eyes, nose, mouth and mummification incisions of Sennefer, Mayor of Thebes; fascinating as the leaves are the most uninteresting part of the bulb. Later, floral garlands were made into the shape of the Ankh sign and offered to the gods. These signs (sometimes two or three feet high) were also carried to the tomb entrance and stood with the casket, which was upright whilst the last rites before interment were offered. As time passed more complicated wreaths of exotic flowers including rosa, lychnis and jasmine were used in these ceremonies. Finally, of crucial importance to Ancient Egyptian life was the role of perfume and perfume production. Large amounts of mostly empty, perfume-filled jars, most likely made from the blue lotus were found alongside Tutankhamun. This perfume remained a staple trade export into the Greco-Roman period. So next time you see the famous Golden Mask of Tutankhamun you will be able to imagine that when it was originally set in place, under that mighty golden face would have been thousands of beautiful, scented flowers woven into rich garlands to transport the Pharaoh safely to the next life. Clockwise, from above: Flowers were originally placed under Tutankhamun’s funerary mask; jasmin flowers; blue lotus is the sacred flower of the Nile; Egyptian gods drawn onto papyrus paper WINTER 2019 | VIKINGCRUISES.CO.UK 41 040-041_EM18_PaulH.indd 41 05/11/2019 10:04