"In the beginning, Egyptian legends attested,floodwaters englufed the world. Nothing stirred amid that dark asnd dismal expanse, Then, miraculously, a lotus blossom surfaced and opened its petals to give birth to sun, Rising from the blossom like a golden bird, the sun subdued the waters and coaxed life from the emerging land. Ever after, when the Nile receded and the growing season began, people gave thanks to the sun god Re and to his earthly conterpart, the Pharaoh, who claimed divine powers and kept the country fruitful."