Ma’at
Ma’at – Lady of Heaven; Queen of Earth; Mistress of the Underworld; Eye of Ra; Daughter of Ra; Lady of the Judgment Hall
Ma’at is a word, a concept, and a goddess:
• Ma’at is a word meaning “true,” “genuine,” “the real thing.” Thus khesbet ma’at means “real lapis lazuli” as opposed to blue paste.
• Ma’at, the concept, is a state of sacred harmony linking the mundane world with the divine. Ma’at, consisting of truth, justice, and balance is a state of grace, which can be damaged by human actions and negative emotions like greed. An Egyptian network of temples and divine rituals existed to maintain and preserve the state of Ma’at.
• Ma’at is the ancient, predynastic goddess who rules this state of grace. She is a goddess of truth, order, and natural ethical and moral law, the spirit of what is right versus what is merely legal or lawful.
Ma’at is now most famous for the part she plays in ancient Egyptian after-life trials. At the final judgment, the dead individual’s heart is weighed against the feather of Ma’at. The heart must equal or weigh less than Ma’at’s feather. If the heart’s weight tips the scales, that person is denied eternal life.
Ma’at is not only a goddess of the afterlife; she has historically been venerated as a personal goddess and held up as an example of that righteous moral code, which ensures connection with the divine and the soul’s survival. Ma’at is very closely associated with Lord Thoth. They stand together in Ra’s barque and are sometimes envisioned as married.
ORIGIN:
Egypt
MANIFESTATION:
Ma’at is a beautiful woman who may have wings. She may wear her signature feather on her head.
Iconography:
She is sometimes portrayed as a woman with an ostrich feather for a head.
ATTRIBUTE:
Ostrich feather, scales of justice
Consort:
Thoth
BIRDS:
Ostrich, vulture
Star:
Vega
SEE ALSO:
- Metis
- Michael
- Thoth
- Egyptian Mythology
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
