noun
- A water lily, especially the sacred lotus of Egypt and Asia, or a mythical plant in ancient Greek literature said to induce forgetfulness.
Usage: Also spelled 'lotus'; In classical mythology, eating the lotos fruit caused dreaminess and loss of desire to return home; Often refers to the Egyptian water lily (Nymphaea caerulea) or the Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Examples
- The ancient Egyptians revered the lotos as a symbol of rebirth and the sun.
- In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus's men ate the lotos and forgot their homeland.
- The lotos flower blooms in shallow waters and holds deep cultural significance in Asia.
- Paintings from antiquity often depicted the lotos in religious and ceremonial contexts.
- The lotos plant has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.