Egypt, Thebes, 18th Dynasty, reign of Hatshepsut (1473 - 1458 BCE) Tomb of Senenmut (TT 71) Stone; Relief, Limestone, The Phil Berg Collection, LACMA M.71.73.46

The information accompanying a much earlier relief at the Met says the scent of a lotus is associated with rebirth because the flower opens each morning for the sun. Bridget McDermott in Decoding Egyptian Hieroglyphs informs us further: "The lotus had an important symbolic role in religious life. The blue lotus, which opens with the first rays of the sun, and the white lotus, which opens only at night, were associated with the sun and moon, and the opposing forces of light and dark...The lotus became a symbol of rebirth after death" and is "also linked to fertility and was a sexual symbol." But as I recall reading in the KMT magazine, 'lotus' is really a misnomer, the flower is really a water lily. Also, there's another thing puzzling me. The museum declares this is from the 18th dynasty, because it was found in Senemut's tomb. Yet it doesn't have New Kingdom style. It appears to be either First Intermediate style or Middle Kingdom style. Note the colorful banding:

Soul of Nekhen, Dyn. 12, @ Met

Detail from First Intermediate Period Piece @ OIM