Attributes: The
goddess Maat represents the ideals of law, order, and truth. The
word, Maat translates "that which is straight." it implies
anything that is true, ordered, or balanced. She was the female
counterpart of Thoth.
We know she is a very ancient goddess because we find her in the
boat of Ra as it
rose above the waters of the abyss of Nu on the first day.
Together with Thoth, they charted the daily course of the sun god
Ra. She is sometimes called the 'eye of Ra' or the
'daughter of Ra'.
Maat also plays an important part in the
Book of the
Dead. It is in the Hall of Maat the judgement of the dead was performed. This was done
by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat. If a balance was struck the deceased was deemed to be
worthy of meeting Osiris
in the after life. If the heart of the deceased was found to be
heavier then the feather of Maat it would be devoured by
Ammut.
