Ma'at

Ma›t

In Egyptian mythology, Ma›t 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-Ma›t (Beloved of Ma›t). 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.

Feather of Truth

in hieroglyphsIn Duat, the Egyptian underworld, the hearts of the dead were said to be weighed against the single Shu feather, symbolically representing the concept of Ma›t, 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, (and pure), hearts were sent on to Osiris in Aaru. The weighing of the heart, pictured on papyrus, (in the Book of the Dead, typically, or in tomb scenes, etc.), shows Anubis overseeing the weighing, the "lion-like" Ammit seated awaiting the results and the eating of the heart, the vertical heart on one flat surface of the balance scale, and the vertical Shu-feather standing on the other balance scale surface.

Ma›t was depicted in art as a woman with wings and a "curved" 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 Ma›t there would be only the primal chaos, ending the world. It was seen as the Pharaoh's necessity to apply just law.

Richard Hooker regards Ma›t as the precursor to logos in Ancient Greece [1].

THE 42 COMMANDMENTS OF ANCIENT EGYPT

1. Thou shalt not kill, nor bid anyone kill.

2. Thou shalt not commit adultery or rape.

3. Thou shalt not avenge thyself nor burn with rage.

4. Thou shalt not cause terror.

5. Thou shalt not assault anyone nor cause anyone pain.

6. Thou shalt not cause misery.

7. Thou shalt not do any harm to man or to animals.

8. Thou shalt not cause the shedding of tears.

9. Thou shalt not wrong the people nor bear them any evil intent.

10. Thou shalt not steal nor take that which does not belong to you.

11. Thou shalt not take more than thy fair share of food.

12. Thou shalt not damage the crops, the fields, or the trees.

13. Thou shalt not deprive anyone of what is rightfully theirs.

14. Thou shalt not bear false witness, nor support false allegations.

15. Thou shalt not lie, nor speak falsely to the hurt of another.

16. Thou shalt not use fiery words nor stir up any strife.

17. Thou shalt not speak or act deceitfully to the hurt of another.

18. Thou shalt not speak scornfully against others.

19. Thou shalt not eavesdrop.

20. Thou shalt not ignore the truth or words of righteousness.

21. Thou shalt not judge anyone hastily or harshly.

22. Thou shalt not disrespect sacred places.

23. Thou shalt cause no wrong to be done to any workers or prisoners.

24. Thou shalt not be angry without good reason.

25. Thou shalt not hinder the flow of running water.

26. Thou shalt not waste the running water.

27. Thou shalt not pollute the water or the land.

28. Thou shalt not take God's name in vain.

29. Thou shalt not despise nor anger God.

30. Thou shalt not steal from God.

31. Thou shalt not give excessive offerings nor less than what is due.

32. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

33. Thou shalt not steal from nor disrespect the dead.

34. Thou shalt remember and observe the appointed holy days.

35. Thou shalt not hold back the offerings due God.

36. Thou shalt not interfere with sacred rites.

37. Thou shalt not slaughter with evil intent any sacred animals.

38. Thou shalt not act with guile or insolence.

39. Thou shalt not be unduly proud nor act with arrogance.

40. Thou shalt not magnify your condition beyond what is appropriate.

41. Thou shalt do no less than your daily obligations require.

42. Thou shalt obey the law and commit no treason.