Schroeder of Oglethorpe University says,. Honored all over the Egyptian lands, Ma'at was typically celebrated with offerings of food, wine, and fragrant incense. She generally did not have temples of her own, but instead was kept in sanctuaries and shrines in other temples and palaces.
Subsequently, she did not have her own priests or priestesses. When a king or Pharaoh ascended to the throne, he presented Ma'at to the other gods by offering them a small statue in her image. By doing this, he asked for her intervention in his rule, to bring balance to his kingdom. She is often depicted, like Isis, with wings on her arms, or holding the feather of an ostrich in her hand.
She typically appears holding an ankh as well, the symbol of eternal life. Ma'at's white feather is known as a symbol of truth, and when someone died, their heart would be weighed against her feather. Before this happened, though, the dead were required to recite a negative confession; in other words, they had to enumerate a laundry list of all the things they never did. If your heart was heavier than Ma'at's feather, it was fed to a monster, who ate it. In addition, Ma'at is often represented by a plinth, which was used to symbolize the throne upon which a Pharaoh sat.
It was a Pharaoh's job to ensure law and order were enforced, so many of them were known by the title Beloved of Maat. The fact that Ma'at herself is portrayed as one indicates to many scholars that Ma'at was the foundation upon which divine rule, and society itself, was built.
She also appears side by side with Ra, the sun god, in his heavenly barge. During the day, she travels with him across the sky, and at night, she helps him to defeat the deadly serpent, Apophis , who brings the darkness.
Her positioning in iconography demonstrates that she is equally powerful to him, as opposed to appearing in a subservient or less powerful position. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
Now On View. This depiction of Maat appears to be cast in three pieces: the altar, the figure, and the feather. Smooth, highly polished surfaces contrast with the concentrated detailing of the feather, wig, broad collar, and openwork altar. The goddess embodying truth, balance, and proper action, Maat pervaded all aspects of Egyptian culture. Traditionally represented as a woman with an ostrich feather headdress, Maat here sits in a characteristic pose.
Similar bronze figures of Maat suggest that this piece is incomplete, and was most likely part of a group composition in which the goddess was juxtaposed with a larger figure of the ibis of the god Thoth. Maat, therefore, would have been viewed from the side or back. Search the Collection.
What are cookies? A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you Cookie Policy. Ma'at was said to be core to the conceptions of the universe's rules and in maintaining the balance and divine order in ancient Egypt.
Thus the goddess was the personification of order and harmony. She is said to have originated when Ra rose from the waters of Nun and thus she is often referred as the daughter of Ra. Also, some consider her to be the wife of the god of wisdom, Thoth. She is represented with wings of the vulture which is her sacred animal and the feather of truth in her headdress. She is often shown carrying an ankh which is the key to life and sometimes she also holds a scepter.
The presence of this goddess seems to have been since the old kingdom.
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