Maàt

In Egyptian mythology, Maàt was the goddess, or rather the concept, of truth, justice and order. Because it was the pharaoh's duty to ensure truth and justice, many of them were referred to as Meri-Maàt (Beloved of Maàt). Since she was considered as merely the concept of order and truth, it was thought that she came into existence at the moment of creation, having no creator. When beliefs about Thoth arose and started to consume the earlier beliefs at Hermopolis about the Ogdoad, it was said that she was the mother of the Ogdoad and Thoth the father.

Related Topics:
Egyptian mythology - Truth - Justice - Order - Pharaoh - Thoth - Hermopolis - Ogdoad

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In Duat, the Egyptian underworld, the hearts of the dead were said to be weighed against a single feather, symbolically representing the concept of Maàt, in the Hall of Two Truths. A heart which was unworthy was devoured by Ammit and its owner condemned to remain in Duat. Those people with good hearts were sent on to Osiris in Aaru.

Related Topics:
Duat - Underworld - Ammit - Osiris - Aaru

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Maàt was depicted in art as a woman with wings and an ostrich feather on her head or sometimes just as a feather. These images are on some sarcophogi as a symbol of protection for the souls of the dead. Egyptians believed that without Maàt there would be only the primal chaos, ending the world. It was seen as the Pharoah's necessity to apply just law.

Related Topics:
Art - Ostrich - Sarcophogi - Primal chaos - Just

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