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Template:Hiero In Egyptian mythology, Maàt was the goddess 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 the force 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.
In Duat, the Egyptian underworld, the hearts of the dead were said to be weighed against 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.
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.
See also
External links
- Ma'at, Goddess of Truth, Balance, Order... (http://touregypt.net/godsofegypt/maat2.htm)
- A list of the 42 Principles of Maàt (http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/wxk116/maat/)
bg:Маат ca:Maàt da:Maàt de:Maat (Mythologie) fi:Maat (jumalatar) fr:Maât nl:Maät pl:Maat ro:Maat sl:Maat