The goddess of truth of Ancient Egypt - the majestic Ma'at, is unique in nature. She personifies both social justice and the stability of the state - from pharaohs to slaves. The Egyptians considered lies and deceit a great crime, and not only before the Ma'at. They violated the laws of nature and cosmic equilibrium. The main role was attributed to the goddess of truth, she was what the other representatives of the Egyptian Olympus ate, despite the fact that Ra occupies a supreme position. Thus, Maat can be called a gray cardinal.
The birth of mythology
Initially, the Egyptians preached the so-called natural belief. It was based on the unity between man and nature. But later this was not enough, mythology began to emerge.
In the 3rd millennium BC e. Egypt has already developed a serious religious system. Researchers believe that initially there were cults where they worshiped various gods and deities. There were many, but the scale is minimal. Then they unite among themselves.
In the process of merging cults, a heavenly world is being built in accordance with the Egyptian state, which at that time was already quite developed. It is believed that the first gods appeared from cosmic chaos. This indicates that the oldest civilization had some idea about the origin of the universe.
In the long stage of the formation of Egyptian mythology, the goddess of truth appears one of the first. She is represented as the daughter of the sun god Ra, who later becomes supreme.
Description
Ma'at is the goddess of truth in Egypt, who was depicted as a winged woman with a feather crowning her head. Throughout history, characters have changed. The only thing that has always remained untouched is the smallest detail on the head. This is probably why the feather of the ostrich became the symbol of Maat herself.
The Egyptians, as a civilization developed for their time, honored the law and wisdom that were the result of truth. Therefore, Maat had a special meaning and position among the gods. It was believed that after death on earth the human soul was transferred to outer space, becoming the very truth, justice and purity.
The symbol of Maat, the ostrich feather, was a minimal measure of weight. That is how much, the Egyptians believed, the soul weighs. In this regard, the smallest monetary unit was invented. Its mass was equal to the weight of the pen. It was called shetit. But at the same time, the Egyptians did not exchange feathers with each other. They simply measured a certain amount of gold, silver, or another resource in the shetites.
Maat principles
The goddess of truth in ancient Egypt and in the formation of a civilized state plays almost the main role. Its principles correspond to the requirements of people at the stage of formation of society. Between the population of Egypt, as well as in its relations with neighboring states, conflict situations are inevitable. And Maat smoothes them, defends universal justice. It is the adoption of laws and regulations that allows Egypt to systematically develop, to avoid wars when they are not needed, to judge criminals and reward virtuous people.
Priests of the goddess of truth are directly involved in the judicial system, which is pretty logical. The pharaohs were depicted with the statuette of Maat in their hands. This emphasized their role in creating and enforcing laws. And in all history there was no such pharaoh who would not worship the goddess of truth, did not defend its principles.
Strange family
The Egyptian goddess of truth, according to mythology, appeared a little later than Ra, which is why it is considered to be her daughter. Initially, the population represented her as a young woman standing on top of a hill, around which there was a void. Ra has not created anything yet. Maat held in her hands a scepter and ankh, symbolizing power and eternal life, respectively.
Later, a time comes when the female and male aspects come together. Then the Egyptians decide to “marry” Maat and Thoth, the god of wisdom. In marriage, they have 8 children. Each of them occupies one of the main places of Hermopolis.
It is unique that the most revered and important god among the sons of Maat and Thoth is Amon. Initially, there were two different cults. Amon and Ra existed separately from each other. Then they are combined. And a strange phenomenon is created: Maat, being the daughter of Ra, becomes his own mother. Perhaps this is how the Egyptians wanted to show the cycle of anything in outer space.
Maat's place in mythology
The goddess of truth was portrayed as a woman with a feather on her head. It was her symbol. Maat played a large role not only in the life court, but also in the afterlife. Osiris gave people the scales that were used after the death of each person. A statuette of Maat (later a feather) was placed on one cup, and the heart of the deceased on the other.
There were two outcome options:
- Balance of weights. It meant that a person’s life was righteous. For this Osiris honored him with eternal bliss.
- A greater or lesser mass of the human heart. This indicated an unrighteous life. Amt, a monster, presented in the form of a lion with a crocodile head, ate man's sins.
Later there was an opinion that Maat has a sister of the same name. Then she began to be called Maati.
The judges wore emblems in the form of a goddess, fastening them on their chest. They conducted their affairs in special rooms called the “Hall of Two Truths”. The cult center is located in the Theban Necropolis. The services to the goddess were carried out by individual priests - viziers. Thus, the place of the goddess of truth in Egyptian mythology is difficult to overestimate.
Symbolism
The name of the goddess of truth, as well as her image, reflected only a superficial essence. The Egyptians themselves claimed that Maat is an abstraction. It is a universal order, which must be observed by the gods, and rulers, and ordinary inhabitants. Without her participation, nature could not exist.
The image of Maat is a woman sitting on the ground and pressing her knees to her chest. A feather crowns her head. Such a doll was always held in the hands of the pharaohs. This meant that on earth they were responsible for order, they could be fairly judged.
The cult of the goddess affected not only earthly, but also cosmic norms. Pharaoh could not only condemn sinful lives, but also reward obedience. So he performed his duties to the gods. As a result, he helped to maintain a fine line, cosmic harmony between deities and people.
In the beliefs of the Egyptians there is a clear distinction between good and evil. For example, Seth personifies everything dark that can only be in the world. Osiris, in turn, acts as his complete antipode. He personifies good. As for Ma'at, the goddess of truth exists as if by itself. Its abstract characteristic does not allow us to attribute it to good or evil. It is everywhere: in the body and soul of man, in the swords of warriors, in outer space, in young animals and plants.