The inhabitants of ancient Egypt believed that by worshiping various divine beings, they can receive protection in business and good luck. God could symbolize successes in the war, a good harvest, happiness and other blessings. Ma'at is one of the most famous objects of worship. We will talk about this goddess today.
What did Maat represent?
The goddess Maat, according to Egyptian mythology, personified harmony, truth and justice. After the chaos on our planet ended, she began to organize order on her again. The goddess Maat was the daughter of the sun god, Ra. She first lived among ordinary mortals, but after some time she moved to heaven, because she could no longer sustain the sinful nature of the inhabitants of the Earth.
The face of the goddess
Ancient artists captured her appearance. The goddess Maat in ancient Egypt is represented by a woman who sits on a sandy hill. An ostrich feather adorns her head. Sometimes depicted also with wings on her back, the goddess Maat. The photo below is one example.
In some cases, this goddess herself was not depicted, but her attributes - a sandy hill where she sat, or an ostrich feather. Maat, according to Egyptian mythology, was the wife of the god of wisdom Thoth.
How did the goddess Maat decide the fate of the deceased?
She actively participated in deciding on the fate of the dead. The ancient Egyptians believed that after death a person finds himself in the kingdom of the dead. This is where the Great Judgment takes place. The deceased appears before 42 gods. It is they who decide his fate.
First of all, the deceased must determine whether he was honest during his lifetime. His words were verified as follows: Maat placed an ostrich feather on one bowl of scales, and the souls of the dead were placed on the second one. If it was easier, the deceased was given an eternal carefree life. But if the feather of Maat rose up, the soul was doomed to eternal torment. She was eaten by the lion Amt with the head of a crocodile. At the same time, Anubis was holding the scales. This god was portrayed with the head of a jackal. And Thoth, the spouse of Maat, passed a sentence.
The image of Maat itself was also often placed on the scales, where the soul was weighed. The hall, in which the number of human sins was determined, was called the hall of two truths (aka Maati).
How did Maat help the living?
This goddess helped not only those in the kingdom of the dead, but also the living. It was believed that Maat patronized fair and honest people. In order for a person to be protected from dishonor, it should have been asked about it. If the goddess Maat is convinced that the thoughts of the suppliant are pure, she will love him and will protect him throughout his life. If he turns out to be dishonorable, she will lead this person along the path of correction. The patronage of Maat could be earned by performing all the rites and completing the necessary ceremonies in her honor. In addition, it was necessary to do only good deeds.
Maat - a symbol of order
Maat, the ancient Egyptian goddess, is a symbol of the order in the entire universe that God bestowed during the creation of the world. According to this order, many important processes took place: the movement of the heavenly bodies, the change of seasons, the connection of people with various divine beings was carried out. All the laws of the life of the ancient Egyptians were built on the principles of the Ma'at.
The principles of this goddess were quite simple, but they ensured the order on the planet established by God, maintained friendly relations between the inhabitants of the Earth, taught responsibility for the actions committed. The ancients believed that the pharaoh is a representative of the gods on our planet. It was he who ensured order by introducing subjects of various rituals into everyday life. This contributed to the eradication of hostility and chaos. Pharaoh, as a sign that the instructions of the gods are being followed, brought to his face a figurine depicting the goddess Maat. This figurine for the ancient Egyptians was not just a fetish. It was she who in those days was a symbol of prosperity and the highest harmony. It was believed that in a sign of establishing order on earth, Maat ascended to other gods in heaven. There she proclaimed that the chaos that had reigned for a long time was defeated.
Appeal to the Ma'at
It was believed that in the language of the one who pronounces the sacred texts, referring to the Ma'at, the figure of this goddess should be inscribed. Thus, it was shown that the desired order can be achieved by performing certain actions, and not just saying words.
The ancients believed that the pharaoh creates the laws of life, which the inhabitants of the Earth had to adhere to. In addition, he, being a descendant of God, was the embodiment of his image on Earth. The ancient Egyptians called their ruler Nether Nefer. This meant literally translating "the incarnation of the Ma'at." By this, they wanted to emphasize that the pharaoh is the one who personifies the divine powers.
Loss of authority of the Ma'at and Pharaohs
After the unrest began in Egypt, when many territories of this state conquered other countries, the patronage of the goddess Maat was no longer as popular as before. Gradually, the pharaohs lost their authority. They could no longer establish laws aimed at maintaining order in the living world. Once again chaos and evil reigned on the planet.
The vector of vertical solidarity was characteristic of the period of the Old Kingdom, when the authority of Maat was great. All laws at the same time came from divine beings, gradually reaching the Earth. Their execution was carried out through the instructions of the pharaoh. However, the ruler in times of troubles could no longer ensure their implementation. The era of horizontal solidarity has begun. At this time, people began to appeal to their own mind, and not to the gods.
Truth and light
Two principles were laid in the foundation of the whole life of the society of Ancient Egypt: truth and light. God Shu controlled the light, and the order and truth in the universe was supported precisely by Maat, the goddess of truth. The Egyptians believed that people were created in the likeness of God. In order to get closer to him even more, it is necessary to go through the life course foreseen for everyone. The ancients believed that the afterlife exists. Man begins a journey in extraterrestrial existence, after he completes all things in the earth. It was believed that after these wanderings, souls come to the highest being.
Bees - Maat Symbol
Bees were one of the symbols of the Ma'at. At the end of the 20th century, a group of archaeologists from the Brooklyn Museum first examined the tomb of Ramses XI, which is located in the Valley of the Kings. It was often used by hermit monks who lived here. When studying the tomb, several repositories were discovered. In them were found objects intended for performing various rituals and ceremonies. Among other things, a sculpture was discovered on which Maat, the ancient Egyptian goddess, and Ramses XI are represented.
According to one legend, the god Ra shed a few tears during the creation of the world. After some time, they became bees. Insects began to bring wax and honey as a gift to the Creator. It was the wax that was used by the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt to create numerous figures of the pharaohs and gods. It was believed that through the figure made of it, it was possible to influence people and even divine beings. Thus, Apop, the main enemy of Ra, was defeated.
The close pharaoh also used wax figures. For example, wishing to destroy their spouse, the wives of Ramses III made figures depicting the pharaoh. Thus they conjured witchcraft.
Temples in honor of the goddess, ceremonies and rites
In many ancient Egyptian temples there are drawings depicting the goddess of Egypt, Maat. Nevertheless, almost no temples erected in her honor. One of these shrines is located in Deir al-Medina, and the other in Karnak. The last temple is part of the Montu complex.
The Egyptians held ceremonies and ceremonies in deference to the Ma'at. Excerpts from them were depicted on the walls of structures. For example, one of them presented the victory of the pharaoh over the population of other countries and the establishment of order in the conquered territories. On the other wall is a pharaoh while hunting a swamp bird. He is surrounded by gods. It was believed that this bird symbolizes the enemy, so it should be killed as soon as possible. After that, harmony will be established in the world again.
Name maat
The name Maat was often part of other Egyptian names. It was believed that it would protect its wearer from evil thoughts and wicked behavior. The high priest of Egypt was also influenced by the Maat. He wore a golden pendant in front of her in front of her, on which was depicted the Egyptian goddess Maat.