The Golden Lotus

A long time ago in the land of Lower Egypt there was a swamp that held a secret. The secret was a lotus of pure gold made by the sun god Ra for his pleasure. But word got out about the lotus and soon all Egypt esp. Pharaoh himself was looking for it. Ra displeased commanded that ten crocodiles and ten cobras guard the golden lotus day and night.

Anyone who should venture there would die a horrible death and have no afterlife. This however did not sway a prince from aquring the lotus as a gift for his princess. The prince was a great and mighty warirror who fought along side Pharoah in wars. For his journey north the prince brought with him magical scrolls, hooks and nets to trap the gaurds.

Upon reaching his destination the prince gathered up what strenght and courage he had. Entering the swamp the prince heard the hissing of the cobras coming from the bushes quickly he gathered up his magical scrolls and read them out loud. The cobras were turned into stone and the price could move on through the swamp.

The water started to ripple and glowing eyes apperaed from the deep before they could attack the prince caught every crocodile with the hooks and nets. Feeling very assured that he trapped all the guards the prince got out of the boat and walked through the swamp with only a knife to protect himself.

Soon the prince reached the golden lotus his eyes were blinded by it's light. The scent coming from the lotus was fragrant yet overpowering enough to knock a man down to his knees. But the prince was strong enough to withstand the scent long enought to cut it. The prince felt powerful holding the golden lotus in his hands. He wrapped it in linen and sailed home to present it to his princess and wife to be.

Reaching the palace the prince raced to the princess's quartes where he unwrapped the golden lotus before her. The light was blinding but the princess could not take her eyes off of it the scent filled the whole palace and soon others were coming to see what was causing it. Everyone was astonish at the sight of the golden lotus and they celebrated with figs, honey cakes and wine.

Egyptians are known to put lotuses in there wine bowls for reasons unknown. But when the prince put the golden lotus in a wine bowl for he and the princess to drink from the wine became poisonous. The two drank and died a painful death but what was worse is that the princess would be alone in the afterlife. On entrance to their tomb there is a warning for people to heed it says pain is beauty and beauty is pain.