Lotus chalice

Material and significance

The chalice is carved from a single piece of alabaster and shaped like a white lotus in full bloom with rounded petals. The handle supports are formed as blue lotus flowers flanked by buds, with the god Heh seated on a neb symbol atop the petals. Heh holds a palm rib with notches for counting years, each resting on a tadpole sitting on a shen ring, with an ankh at the upper end. This depiction represents the god of the million years, symbolizing infinity and eternity: the palm rib is the hieroglyph for year, the tadpole represents 100,000, and the shen ring symbolizes eternity.

A kneeling image of the god is the hieroglyph for one million. The same motif appears on other tomb items, such as the cedar chair. The chalice thus symbolizes the infinite and eternal life of King Tutankhamun. In Egyptian mythology, the lotus is significant for the birth of the sun god, who emerged from the lotus after it rose from the primeval waters of Nun.

The king's name in the center of the white open flower symbolizes his rebirth, a theme also seen in the Head of Nefertem.

Inscriptions

The inscriptions are engraved and filled with blue pigment. Howard Carter copied them and asked Alan Gardiner for a translation. The main lotus cup bears the king's prenomen Nebkheperure and his nomen Tutankhamun with the epithet 'beloved of Amun-Re, lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands and lord of heaven, given life for ever,' written from right to left. The rim inscription reads in two directions.

From left to right, beginning with the central ankh, it gives the full five-fold titulary: 'May (he) live, the Horus Mighty Bull, beautiful of birth, the Two Ladies Goodly of Laws, who pacifies the Two Lands, the Horus of Gold Exalted of Crowns, who placates the gods, King of Upper and Lower Egypt and the Lord of the Two Lands Nebkheperure, given life.' From right to left, again starting with the ankh, it reads: 'May your ka live, may you spend millions of years, you who love Thebes, sitting with your face to the north wind, your eyes beholding happiness.' Carter called it the King's Wishing Cup because of this inscription, which is quoted on his second gravestone.

Did You Know?

• The lotus chalice was one of the first objects found by Carter and his excavators on entering the tomb, lying on the floor immediately inside the antechamber.
• It was among the original finds selected for the first temporary exhibition of Tutankhamun's grave goods.
• The chalice was displayed with exhibition number 39 in the world-touring Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition.