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.
Representation: A woman wearing a tall ostrich feather on her head. Or an
ostrich feather.
