Victoria Cannava, Ariana Gaytan, Milena Olkhovetsky, Micheal Plishchin, Joey Yu
Nelumbo Nucifera (more commonly known as the Indian Lotus or the Scared Lotus) and the Nilotic Blue Lotus have long been companions of human history, and their history in human culture and application is staggering. Through a cultural perspective, we explore the history of the spreading of lotus symbolism and significance, its representations in art, and its spiritual/mystical meaning. We connect this knowledge to the applications of lotus flowers in medicine and nutrition (of which the health benefits of lotuses continue to be explored). Through these 5 aspects, we can form a thesis that can make sense of trends within the lotus and its ubiquity in many human cultures.
